Government

Senate Passes $2 Trillion Stimulus Bill

The Senate late Thursday night voted 96-0 to pass at $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill. Both of Alabama’s senators voted for the bill. Members of the House of Representatives have been called back to Washington to take up the bill Friday morning. Alabama Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat, said the bill wasn’t perfect, but it did include a lot of good things for the state. Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, a Republican, said the bill would help state and local governments that are in desperate need while grappling with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

Jackson County Reports Alabama’s First Coronavirus Death

UPDATED — An employee at the Jackson County Courthouse has died from the coronavirus, according to County Commission Chairman Tim Guffey, which could be Alabama’s first death from the COVID-19 pandemic. Guffey released a statement today, which said the employee worked in a department of the courthouse that did not require regular contact with the public. The courthouse will not reopen, however, until at least April 6, he added. “From the day that the part-time employee last worked, the expected incubation period has now expired,” Guffey said. “All county employees who work in the same department have been notified and none of them have reported any symptoms associated with the COVID-19 virus.” Read more.

COVID-19 Cases in Alabama Jump to 386, Up by More Than 100 Today

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama jumped by 103 today, totaling 386. The Alabama Department of Public Health's updated count this morning was 283, but the total when the figures were posted this afternoon was 386. The biggest increase was in Jefferson County, where the total rose from 99 earlier in the day to 129 in the later count. Shelby County reported 42 cases, up by six today. There were cases in 41 of Alabama's 67 counties. Read more.

Websites Offer Details on COVID-19 Cases, Testing

Public health agencies in Alabama are offering websites to provide a wide range of information about COVID-19 cases, where they are occurring and how to get tested. The sites are updated twice daily as the number of cases increase. The Jefferson County Health Department's coronavirus site offers information ranging from a breakdown of cases by ZIP code to tips on coping with the disease, sources of various types of information and listings of business closings. Read more.

Birmingham City Council Approves Final Piece of Funding for a Small Business Loan Program

The Birmingham City Council on Wednesday approved spending $1 million from its General Fund on a small business loan program designed to help small businesses struggling with the impact of COVID-19. The money is in addition to $200,000 put in the program fund Tuesday from the city’s innovation and economic opportunity fund. Read more.

Number of COVID-19 Cases in Alabama Stands at 283

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.

World Awaits Results of COVID-19 Drug Treatment Developed at UAB Center

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.

UAB Researchers Answer Questions About Antiviral Work

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.

Alabama’s COVID-19 Count Reaches 242, 118 in Jefferson and Shelby Counties

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.

Birmingham Residents Ordered to Shelter in Place, Leave Home for Only the Most Essential Activities

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