The Alabama Department of Public Health's tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state rose this morning to 283, up from 242 on Tuesday. Jefferson County accounted for 99 cases, and Shelby County had 36. The disease was reported from 28 of Alabama's 67 counties. The department said 2,818 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Alabama. Read more.
In the search for a drug treatment for COVID-19, prime interest has centered on remdesivir, a compound produced by Gilead Sciences that has its roots in a National Institutes of Health-funded center based at UAB.
Demand for the therapy has been so high – even before proof of the drug’s effectiveness has emerged from clinical trials – that Gilead officials on Sunday halted further access to individual patients requesting it under the FDA’s “compassionate use” status.
UAB researcher Richard Whitley, who helped develop the drug and heads the Antiviral Drug Discovery and Development Center, said he understood that the pharmaceutical company would still grant use of remdesivir through physician request even outside of a clinical trial.
Read more.
A Q&A with UAB antiviral researchers.
Richard Whitley, MD, director, and Stephanie Moore, PhD, associate director, of the Antiviral Drug Discovery and Development Center (AD3C) answer questions by Hank Black of BirminghamWatch about the University of Alabama at Birimingham's anti-viral research program. Read more.
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama climbed today to 242, including 91 in Jefferson County and 27 in Shelby County. The Alabama Department of Public Health's afternoon update showed cases of COVID-19 confirmed in 26 counties. Since a report earlier in the day, Autauga was added to the list of counties where the disease was diagnosed, with one case there. Read more.
A “shelter in place” ordinance is now in effect in Birmingham. The order, passed by the City Council Tuesday evening, is intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by effectively instituting a curfew on all residents — with numerous exceptions. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said the ordinance was intended to address those who were not in compliance with the city’s previous recommendations. “A lot of people are treating this as a vacation,” he said. “This is not a vacation. … We need to now pivot from recommendation to full enforcement if the ultimate goal is to save lives.” There are numerous exceptions outlined in the ordinance — notably for people seeking “essential services or commodities;” public safety officials and first responders; utility, cable, and telecommunications companies; federal, state, county or city government employees; and the homeless. Read more. Ivey Says No Shelter-in-Place Order Needed for State Right Now; Health Officials Search for Extra Medical Resources
The Birmingham City Council has approved the first part of funding for a small business loan program designed to help small businesses struggling with the impact of COVID-19. The program, which was approved in concept last week, would provide eligible small businesses with up to $25,000 in interest-free, 180-day loans. Read more.
UPDATED — Alabama lawmakers are expected to be back in Montgomery March 31, but how long they’ll be able to work and what they’ll be able to do in the middle of a public health emergency is in question. “I can’t say in the present situation we can pass budgets,” Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, told Alabama Daily News on Monday. “The big question is, how long will this last? It’s one thing for a couple of weeks; It’s another if it lasts for months.” As local and state governments try to stop the spread of the coronavirus and businesses slow or shutter temporarily, the impact on state revenue is expected to be significant. How bad that will be will depend on how long people are asked to stay home, state leaders said this week. Read more.
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama reached 215 today, with Jefferson and Shelby counties accouting for more than half. The Alabama Department of Public Health's morning update today showed cases of COVID-19 confirmed in 25 of the state's 67 counties , with 90 cases in Jefferson County and 24 in Shelby County. Read more.
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama rose today to 167, with Jefferson County accounting for 79 of those. The Alabama Department of Public Health's morning update showed Shelby, Lee and Madison counties at 17 cases each. Read more.
UPDATED — Calling it a matter of life and death, the chief medical officer of Jefferson County called for the closure of most retail stores beginning at 5 p.m. today. Those include furniture and home furnishing stores; clothing and shoe stores; jewelry; luggage and leather goods stores; department stores; sporting goods; hobby book and music stores; and florists. Read more.
