There's a tension between the social distancing measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and the economic cost that's causing. The Harvard Club of Birmingham took up that issue in a formal debate this week. Read more.
Vernecia Fletcher, a veteran manager at Washee Quickee, a car detailing and U-Haul rental business in Birmingham, says COVID-19 has helped U-Haul rentals but has slowed the car detailing side of the business and caused layoffs. Read more.
The Alabama Department of Corrections on Friday reported the first three confirmed cases of COVID-19 within its prisons. One of the diagnosed inmates, a 66-year-old with a terminal illness, died Thursday, but an official cause of death has not yet been determined, the ADOC said in a statement on its website. Read more.
Many currently shuttered businesses in Alabama could reopen over the next few weeks under new recommendations from a task force created by Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth. Some establishments such as restaurants, hair salons, child care centers and small retail stores would open immediately under the plan, while others such as medical services, casinos, gyms and entertainment venues would need to wait until May 1. The state's beaches would also open May 1 and youth sports could resume starting May 11, under the plan from the Small Business Emergency Task Force, which was formed by Ainsworth earlier this month. The recommendations have been sent to Gov. Kay Ivey, who said she would take them into consideration when formulating next steps in Alabama's response to the coronavirus outbreak. The state remains under a stay-at-home order limiting residents to only essential errands until April 30. Read more. Related: Is Stay-in-Place Currently A Wise Policy For Alabama? The Harvard Club of Birmingham Debates.
UPDATE — A team of specially trained Alabama National Guard troops is expected Saturday at the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home as part of a mission to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus at nursing homes around the state. In a news release issued today, the state Department of Public Health said Guard troops will be disinfecting nursing homes where patients and employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and will train staff at the homes in the proper use of personal protective equipment. Read more.
The Trump EPA announced this week that it will not lower the current limit on particulate air pollution, an action that disappointed but didn’t surprise public health scientists and clean-air advocates who pointed to a new Harvard study connecting the pollution to a higher mortality risk from COVID-19. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s decision flew in the face of the agency’s own career scientists, who had urged adoption of stricter air quality standards for what is commonly referred to as soot. Wheeler was backed up by a majority of the agency’s independent advisory group on air quality, including Corey Masuca of the Jefferson County Health Department. Read more.
Even as state officials roll out a plan for “safely reopening Alabama,” as Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth put it, you can be forgiven if you’re still confused about what exactly is currently open and what is closed because of COVID-19 social distancing requirements. At some points since the pandemic closures began, driving by shopping area parking lots could be a pretty good indicator -- grocery and hardware stores had crowds of cars, while other businesses were barren. And while that’s still somewhat true, some businesses are challenging the notion that everybody is equally shut down. Read more.
Alabama’s cases of COVID-19 stood at 4,723 today, and the number of people who have been hospitalized since the pandemic began reached 620. Reported deaths in the state are up to 147. The Alabama Department of Public Health has confirmed 113 of those deaths and is investigating the remainder of the cases, in which people who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 died. Read more.
The First Missionary Baptist Church-East Boyles, in Tarrant City, shared a prayer on the sign outside the church.
Dr. Selwyn Vickers, UAB senior vice-president and dean of the School of Medicine, is a busy person as he deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. But BirminghamWatch caught a few minutes with him Thursday to ask a quick series of questions. He said precautions being taken to stem the spread of COVID-19 have virtually shut down many research projects. The hospital is lower than usual on some supplies, but the stock is generally holding its own. And the pandemic is teaching administrators lessons that could be useful with operations going forward. Read more.
