Coronavirus

Alabama’s COVID-19 Count Tops 1,600 Daily for Eighth Consecutive Day

The Alabama Department of Public Health on Sunday reported 1,685 new cases of COVID-19 in the state, marking the eighth consecutive day with more than 1,600 new cases. The agency's COVID-19 Dashboard listed a total of 65,865 confirmed cases, plus 1,054 believed to be from the disease but not yet confirmed. There was one new death, bringing the overall count to 1,254, with 33 more listed as probably from the virus but still under investigation.  Alabama is now averaging 1,851 new cases a day over the past week and 1,601 daily during the last 14 days. The state is averaging 23 deaths daily for the last week and 19 a day over the past two weeks. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

More Than 2,000 New Cases of COVID-19 Reported Saturday in Alabama

Alabama added 2,069 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing its total to 64,180, the state Department of Public Health reported. That marked the fourth consecutive day the number of new cases has risen. The state is averaging 1,840 cases a day for the past week and 1,558 daily over the past 14 days. The Health Department's COVID-19 Dashboard showed an additional 21 deaths for the 24-hour period, raising the overall total to 1,253 since the pandemic began in mid-March. The agency said an additional 980 cases and 33 deaths probably were from the disease but were still being investigated. Jefferson County continued to be the hotspot for the virus, with 295 new cases to bring its total to 8,400. The state's most populous county reported one death, for a total of 183. Shelby County added 93 cases to raise its total to 2,148. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Not Just in the Lungs: Coronavirus Causes Blood Clots, Attacks the Brain, Can Result in Strokes and Organ Damage

In March, a Chinese researcher warned scientists and doctors to expect the unexpected with COVID-19. That researcher hit it on the nose, said UAB pulmonary critical care physician Dr. Sheetal Gandotra. "We had a lot to learn about the risk factors, symptoms, course of the disease, organ systems affected and recovery. But the basic tenets of excellent critical care remain the same.” As doctors treat COVID-19 patients with a constellation of symptoms and organ damage, researchers continue to try to determine health outcomes for virus survivors. They have no long-term studies to guide them, because the disease surfaced in China in November 2019. Initially, COVID-19 was thought of as a respiratory disease. But now, studies show the virus spreads its deadly effects through blood clots to the brain, heart, kidneys, endothelial cells that line blood vessels and other vital organs. From looking at the damage, some researchers have said a subset of patients who contract the coronavirus may suffer long-term damage from the disease. Autopsies of COVID victims have found that the virus attacked the lungs the most ferociously, but the pathogen was found in other vital body organs. Pathologists found that oxygen deprivation to the brain and the formation of blood clots may start early in the disease process. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

White House Document Shows 18 States in Coronavirus “Red Zone”

“This article about the coronavirus red zone was originally published by the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit newsroom based in Washington, D.C.”> A document prepared for the White House Coronavirus Task Force but not publicized suggests more than a dozen states should revert to more stringent protective measures, limiting social gatherings to 10 people or fewer, closing bars and gyms and asking residents to wear masks at all times. The document, dated July 14 and obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, says 18 states are in the “red zone” for COVID-19 cases, meaning they had more than 100 new cases per 100,000 population last week. Eleven states are in the “red zone” for test positivity, meaning more than 10 percent of diagnostic test results came back positive. Alabama is on the list for both red zones. Read more.

by Liz Essley Whyte Reporter, Center for Public Integrity

Birmingham Schools Discuss Plans to Reopen Aug. 24

The Birmingham Board of Education has formed a plan for students to start the new school year, but many questions remain about how learning will look. The interim superintendent of Birmingham City Schools, Dr. Mark Sullivan, said in a press conference Friday that BCS is in the process of figuring out how to start school while keeping students, parents and teachers healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. For now, school officials are looking at four options. Read more.

by Jackson Sharman

Exclusive: White House Document Shows 18 States in Coronavirus “Red Zone”

“This article about the coronavirus red zone was originally published by the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit newsroom based in Washington, D.C.”> A document prepared for the White House Coronavirus Task Force but not publicized suggests more than a dozen states should revert to more stringent protective measures, limiting social gatherings to 10 people or fewer, closing bars and gyms and asking residents to wear masks at all times. The document, dated July 14 and obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, says 18 states are in the “red zone” for COVID-19 cases, meaning they had more than 100 new cases per 100,000 population last week. Eleven states are in the “red zone” for test positivity, meaning more than 10 percent of diagnostic test results came back positive. Alabama is on the list for both red zones. Read more.

by Liz Essley Whyte, Center for Public Integrity

Metro Areas Lead Daily Surge in COVID-19 Cases in Alabama

With the Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville and Montgomery areas accounting for almost half the cases, Alabama recorded 1,953 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, pushing the state's overall total to 62,111 since the pandemic began in March. The Alabama Department of Public Health's daily COVID Dashboard showed 32 deaths during the 24-hour period, bringing the overall total to 1,232. For the second consecutive day, Walker County had the most deaths; the county, which includes Jasper, reported six deaths on Thursday and five on Friday to raise its total to 48. The report marked the third straight day of increasing numbers of cases. Alabama is averaging 1,745 new cases a day over the past week and 1,482 daily during the last 14 days. Jefferson County again led the increase with 296 new cases for a total of 8,105. Mobile County had 199 cases to raise its total to 5,713, and Madison County listed 175 for an overall count of 3,148. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Jefferson County Reports 360 COVID-19 Cases as Alabama’s Count Continues to Climb

Jefferson County reported 360 cases of COVID-19 Thursday as the number of people testing positive for the disease in Alabama continued its steady climb. The Alabama Department of Public Health's daily COVID-19 Dashboard showed 1,933 new confirmed cases of the disease for the 24-hour period, pushing the state's total to 60,158 since the pandemic hit in mid-March. Another 842 individuals are suspected of having COVID-19 but their cases are still being investigated. Seventeen people died of the disease during the latest period, raising the state's overall total to 1,200, plus 28 more that are still being checked. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Alabama’s COVID-19 New-Case Averages Climb to All-Time Highs Again

The upward march of COVID-19 totals for new cases and deaths continues in Alabama, which led Gov. Kay Ivey to order the mandatory use of face masks in most situations. In Birmingham Watch’s weekly analysis of data reported by the Alabama Department of Public Health, the 7-day moving average of new cases for the period ending July 15 jumped to 1,685.86 per day, an all-time high. And the longer-term 14-day moving average also stands at a record high of 1,413.07. The total number of people who have tested positive for the disease since the pandemic began in mid-March stands at 58,225, an increase of 11,801 cases from seven days prior. The new total is roughly double the number reported on June 20 and quadruple that of May 24, which means the total is doubling about every 25 days. At the current rate of increase, Alabama could reach 100,000 positive cases on or about Aug. 5. Read more.

by Robert Carter

Ivey Orders Use of Face Masks Statewide as COVID-19 Spikes in Alabama

Gov. Kay Ivey, expressing alarm over the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Alabama, issued a statewide mask order Wednesday, effective at 5 p.m. Thursday. Appearing at a news conference with state health officer Scott Harris, Ivey said masks will be required for all indoor spaces open to the public, on vehicles operated by transportation services and in outdoor spaces where 10 or more people are gathered. “Overnight last night we had 2,141 new cases,” she said. “That brings our total to 58,270 cases, and we’ve had 1,183 deaths.” Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald