Category: Coronavirus
Three Deaths, 604 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Alabama
Three people have died of COVID-19 in Alabama, the Alabama Public Health Department reported today as the number of confirmed cases of the disease rose to 604 in 52 of the state’s 67 counties.
All three of the deaths were in the Tennessee Valley in north Alabama — one each in Jackson, Lauderdale and Madison counties.
The Birmingham area continued to be the hot spot, with 179 cases in Jefferson County and 67 in Shelby County, according to the Health Department.
Read more.
As Crisis Calls Increase, Domestic Violence Shelters Have COVID-19 Plans
MONTGOMERY — Domestic abuse crisis calls are increasing in Alabama and some police departments report slight decreases in other criminal activity as people are told to stay at home to slow down the spread of COVID-19.
The YWCA Central Alabama shelter in Birmingham said it has received roughly double the number of calls to its crisis hotline on the weekend of March 20-21 compared to the average weekend.
Domestic abuse shelters around the state haven’t seen a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking shelter but expect they will as people in already abusive relationships are isolated in their homes longer.
“I don’t think that that’s a secret for anybody,” said Tay Knight, the executive director of the Family Sunshine Center in Montgomery. “When you put people in these situations, where they are isolated, where there are other stressors like maybe loss of employment or reduction in employment and things get tight from a financial perspective, that it is likely to just make the situation worse,” Knight said. Read more.
No Party, No Disco, No Fooling Around. State Closes All but Essential Businesses and Services.
Gov. Kay Ivey today announced intensified efforts to control the coronavirus outbreak in Alabama, with the state health officer prohibiting all non-work gatherings of 10 or more or of any size where people can’t stay 6 feet apart. The new order goes into effect starting at 5 p.m. Saturday and is expected to remain in effect until 5 p.m. April 17.
The new order is from the state health officer and follows the lead of other authorities that have mandated a wide range of businesses and activities deemed non-essential most close or not operate.
In announcing the order today, Ivey said: “Rather than shutting the entire state down, I propose a different solution. Today, I join Dr. (Scott) Harris in announcing a specific list of non-essential businesses that will close until April 17. If you can stay home, you are safer at home.” Read more.
3 Deaths, 604 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Alabama
Three people have died of COVID-19 in Alabama, the Alabama Public Health Department reported today as the number of confirmed cases of the disease rose to 604 in 52 of the state’s 67 counties.
All three of the deaths were in the Tennessee Valley in north Alabama — one each in Jackson, Lauderdale and Madison counties.
The Birmingham area continued to be the hot spot, with 179 cases in Jefferson County and 67 in Shelby County, according to the Health Department.
Read more.
BAO Finds Workarounds to Continue Services Despite COVID-19 Threat
Birmingham Aids Outreach hasn’t let up on the services it provides to HIV-positive clients and members of the LGBTQ community. But the demands of social distancing have demanded the group re-create how it’s doing some usually ordinary things, said Karen Musgrove, CEO of BAO. See how the group is working around the difficulties.
Public Schools Closed for the Year; State Will Offer Alternative Learning Opportunities
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday afternoon that public school students will not return to the classrooms this school year.
Beginning April 6, the state will offer alternative learning methods of instruction. The state education superintendent is to complete that plan of instruction, Ivey said during a press conference.
“Local school districts will make staffing decisions and determinations related to access to school buildings” based on state health directives, Ivey said.
“We want to prevent a slide in students’ learning and achievement, and we are doing the best we can,” she said. Read more.
Speaker: No Date Certain for Resuming Session; Senate Talks April 28
UPDATED: MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature is on hold for now, and it’s unclear when legislators will return to Montgomery. The regular session ends May 18, and House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said he’s not sure whether the House could reconvene before that, making a special session likely. On the Senate side, leaders are talking about returning to the State House on April 28. Budgets and other important legislation had not been passed when legislators left Montgomery to combat the spread of COVID-19. Read more.
Alabama Schools Close Through the End of the Year
Schoolhouse doors will be closed in Alabama through the end of the term to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Kay Ivey and state school Superintendent Eric Mackey began a press conference to announce the decision at 4 p.m. Going forward, schools are directed to use alternative methods of instruction. A full story will be published after the press conference.
As COVID-19 Cases Increase, Medical Staffing Shortages a Concern
As Dr. Don Williamson saw the coronavirus approach Alabama, he said he worried about three areas of potential shortages in the state.
First was the number of hospital beds, ventilators and other equipment that would be needed. Second was personal protection equipment for medical professionals to shield them, and then others, from the virus.
Third was the medical staff itself.
“I have real concerns about COVID-19 on health care workers,” Williamson, the executive director of the Alabama Hospital Association and former state public health officer, said. Read more.
Number of Alabama COVID-19 Cases Rises to 466, Spread Across 48 Counties
There have been 466 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama, the state Department of Public Health reports today.
The disease has been reported in 48 on Alabama’s 67 counties, led by Jefferson County with 142 cases, Shelby Count with 50 and Lee County with 45. One death from the disease has been reported, that of a Jackson County resident. The person’s name and other information about the case have not been disclosed, except for the fact that the patient was a part-time employee at the county courthouse in Scottsboro.
a href=” https://birminghamwatch.org/number-alabama-covid-19-cases-rises-449-spread-across-45-counties/ “> Read more.
