Coronavirus

In Rural Alabama, Pandemic Highlights Need For Broadband Access

Ben Eaton is one of roughly 9,000 people who live in Perry County, about an hour’s drive south of Tuscaloosa in the Black Belt region of Alabama. Eaton’s house is one mile from the center of town and, according to him, it is the last one on the street that has internet. “It works sometimes. Sometimes it doesn’t,” he said.  He has a dial-up connection, which is pretty much the only option. Internet access has been a problem for years throughout rural Alabama. According to one survey, the state ranks 38th nationwide in broadband coverage.  People in Perry County have especially felt the impact during the COVID-19 crisis. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

COVID-19 Cases Top 7,000 in Alabama

The number of COVID-19 cases in Alabama had risen to 7,068 early Friday morning, with 272 deaths. Since the first case was reported March 13, 990 people have been hospitalized with the disease, according to Alabama Department of Public Health data. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Fifth Inmate in Alabama Prison Tests Positive for COVID-19

A fifth Alabama prison inmate has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, the state Department of Corrections announced Thursday night. The inmate, who was at Bibb Correctional Facility in Brent, tested positive while being treated at a local hospital and is under care there, according to a corrections news release. Read more.

by Tom Gordon

Alabama Starts Reopening; Birmingham Requires Face Coverings and Institutes Nighttime Curfew

Alabama is officially restarting its economy – a bit. The state’s Stay-at-Home order expired at 5 p.m. as a new Safer-at-Home order took its place, and the Shelter-in-Place order for the city of Birmingham expires at midnight. But Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced Thursday afternoon that the city had instituted a curfew that begins each evening at 10:00 and ends the following morning at 5:00. Woodfin also reminded people that the city has a new law that beginning Friday requires people out in public to wear face coverings. Medical-grade masks are not required by the ordinance; scarves, bandanas or other fabrics will suffice. As the state eases up on its emergency order, retail stores were cleared to open at 5 p.m. Thursday, if they choose. However, they must limit the shoppers allowed in to half or less of their maximum capacity, disinfect and allow room for customers to stay 6 feet or more away from each other. Businesses, too, may reopen if they can ensure social distancing among workers. Elective medical procedures also may resume. The state’s beaches are open, but gatherings of 10 people or more are still prohibited, and people still must stay 6 feet away from each other. Read more.

by Robert Carter

It Takes a Community

The Levite Jewish Community Center urges people to turn their focus outward a bit to help others in need.

by Tom Gordon

Alabama’s COVID-19 Case Numbers Rise Significantly, but Rate of Increase Slows Slightly

As Alabama is set to begin a slow relaxation of restrictions in daily life made because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of increase in the number of new cases in Alabama has lessened a bit — but not enough to satisfy one of the “gating criteria” in President Donald Trump’s “Opening Up America Again” plan for phased comebacks. The number of new cases added to the state’s cumulative total each day has fluctuated, with numbers of new cases in the past seven days ranging from 222 on April 23 to 118 this past Monday. As of late Wednesday night, the Alabama Department of Public Health reports that there are 6,925 cases COVID-19, an increase of 1,315 from a week before. Deaths in Alabama attributed to the virus stand at 262, which is 65 more deaths in the past seven days. Read more.

by Robert Carter

UAB Drug Remdesivir Is First to Block the COVID-19 Virus, May Become Standard of Care. Fauci “Optimistic.”

Remdesivir, a drug developed through a federal grant to UAB, may be the first effective therapy for treating severely ill COVID-19 patients, early analysis of a large federally sponsored study found this week. The drug reduced hospital stays by one-third and produced fewer adverse side effects, according to two UAB doctors who participated in the international trial. Read more.

by Hank Black

COVID-19 Cases Up by 211, 14 More Die

The number of COVID-19 cases in Alabama had risen to 6,750 late Tuesday night, an increase of 211 cases from 24 hours before. Fourteen more people died in that period, bringing total deaths in the state to 242. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Jefferson County Reopening Courthouses Friday, With Some Restrictions

The new normal begins Friday in Jefferson County as the County Commission reopens its courthouses and county facilities. The commission’s order to close county facilities to the public expires Thursday. “You’ll see some changes when you come in the courthouse,” county manager Tony Petelos said. “We're doing everything that we possibly can to protect our employees and to protect the public.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Senate Committee OKs $2.38B General Fund Budget

MONTGOMERY — An Alabama Senate committee on Tuesday approved a proposed 2021 General Fund Budget of $2.38 billion, an increase from the current fiscal year funding but less than what was expected before the coronavirus outbreak cut into tax revenues. The funding increases were primarily for four agencies: Medicaid, mental health, corrections and public health. Raises that were anticipated earlier in the year for state employees aren't in the budget. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Todd Stacy and Caroline Beck Alabama Daily News