Coronavirus

Alabama Is in ‘Survival Mode’ Says University of Alabama Economist

Every sector in Alabama’s economy is shrinking this year because of the pandemic. That’s according to Samuel Addy, senior research economist and associate dean for economic development outreach at the University of Alabama. During a press conference Thursday, Addy joined Democrat Sen. Doug Jones to talk about Alabama’s economy, which they both agreed is in ‘survival mode.’ “All the help coming from D.C., the bills that the senator and others are working on, are not stimulus bills. They are actions and investments for survival,” Addy said. “We know that we are in a worse situation than a few months ago. We need to invest for survival because if we don’t survive, nothing matters.” Read more.

by Miranda Fulmore, WBHM

Birmingham-Area Schools Nail Down Reopening Plans

As the beginning of schools’ fall term creeps nearer, school officials are nailing down their plans for educating students during the coronavirus pandemic. Those plans vary across the Birmingham area, and some school leaders emphasize that they still could change, depending on the severity of the outbreak. All schools will offer a virtual learning option. Some schools are only doing virtual learning for the first nine weeks, while other schools also have an option to attend school in person. Start dates also vary widely, from Fairfield’s Aug. 10 opening to Jefferson County’s Sept. 1 opening. See the current plans for Birmingham-area schools to open in the fall term. More stories on local school openings: Birmingham Schools Announce Online-Only Learning for First 9 Weeks Jefferson County Schools to Go Virtual-Only for First Nine Weeks; Some Student Athletes and Staff Have Tested Positive for COVID

by Jackson Sharman

1,626 New Cases of COVID-19 Reported Thursday, Reversing Three-Day Decline

After three days of decline, the number of new cases of COVID-19 almost doubled Thursday, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health's daily report. There were 1,626 confirmed new cases and 15 deaths for the 24-hour period covered by the report. That was up from 886 new cases the previous day. The total number of cases of the disease in Alabama since the pandemic began in March reached 93,402, plus 1,654 deaths. Another 2,878 cases and 56 deaths are listed as probably associated with the coronavirus but still under study. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Students With Disabilities Face Significant Challenges as Schools Plan to Reopen

For more than 96,000 students with special needs across Alabama, the loss of in-person services could mean a decline in learning, communication or functional skills. It also takes a toll on family members. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

New Cases of COVID-19 Per Day Trend Downward in Alabama

A decrease in the number of new positive COVID-19 test results per day is spurring tentative hope that the pandemic is starting to take a turn for the better in Alabama. The 7-day and 14-day averages in new cases have trended downward over the period ending Aug. 5, and for the first time in a month, the raw number of new cases has fallen below 1,000 for two straight days. In BirminghamWatch’s weekly analysis of data reported by the Alabama Department of Public Health, the 7-day moving average is 1,457.71 per day. That’s a decrease of 136 cases from the week before and almost 393 fewer than the high on July 19. Read more.

by Robert Carter

COVID-19 Case Count Falls for Third Consecutive Day

Alabama recorded 886 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, a decline for the third consecutive day and the lowest daily count in more than a month. The Alabama Department of Public Health also reported 28 deths in the state during the most recent 24-hour period. There have been 91,776 confirmed cases of the disease and 1,639 deaths attributed to it since the pandemic began in mid-March. In addition, 2,812 cases and 55 deaths are presumed to have been from the disease but are still under study. The daily total on Wednesday was the lowest since a count of 854 on June 30. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Pregnancy During The Pandemic: What You Should Know

The interim chair of UAB’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology debunked a number of COVID pregnancy myths. Read more.

by Miranda Fulmore, WBHM

Jefferson County Schools to Go Virtual-Only for First Nine Weeks; Some Student Athletes and Staff Have Tested Positive for COVID

UPDATED — The Jefferson County Board of Education voted Tuesday to begin the 2020-2021 school year Sept. 1 with nine weeks of online education only and no option for traditional classroom learning, as educators and parents continue to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. The recommendation came from Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin after weeks of town hall meetings with parents, faculty, staff and other stakeholders, as well as an online survey in which Gonsoulin said 80% of JefCoEd families responded. In that survey, 56% were in favor of online learning, and 44% wanted traditional face-to-face classroom learning. The board approved the recommendation by a 4-1 vote in Tuesday’s online meeting. Gonsoulin in a later press conference said that some student athletes have tested positive for COVID-19, as have some faculty and staff members, as the schools gear up to reopen. He said no employees will be furloughed because of the return to virtual learning. Read more.

by Robert Carter

Daily COVID-19 Count Drops to Lowest Number Since Early July

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Alabama dropped Tuesday to its lowest level since July 7. There were 963 confirmed new cases of the disease in the daily report issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health, bringing the total number of cases since the pandemic began in March to 90,890. The count had not been below 1,000 since the total of 888 in early July. The daily COVID Dashboard listed 31 deaths for the latest 24-hour period, pushing the statewide total to 1,611. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

UAB Launches COVID Testing for More Than 200,000 College Students

Alabama university and health officials are hopeful that a statewide monitoring platform will lower the spread of COVID-19 on campuses this fall. The program, called GuideSafe, officially launched Monday and includes free testing, symptom monitoring and contact tracing via mobile applications. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM