Science

National Guard Called in to Disinfect Nursing Homes

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.

by Tom Gordon

EPA Rejects Move to Strengthen Air Pollution Limits

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.

by Hank Black

What’s Open, What’s Closed?

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.

by Nick Patterson

COVID-19 Diagnosed in 4,723 Alabamians

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.

by BirminghamWatch

Sign of the Times: A Prayer for Healing

The First Missionary Baptist Church-East Boyles, in Tarrant City, shared a prayer on the sign outside the church.

by Tom Gordon

Q&A With UAB Med School Dean Selwyn Vickers: Pandemic “Significantly” Shutting Down Clinical Trial Enterprise

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.

by Hank Black

Alabama Farmers Shift Food Processing Due to Coronavirus; Food Waste Not a Problem

Now that Alabamians are eating at home more due to the coronavirus and the resulting stay-at-home orders, state farmers are having to shift how they package and process food. “Restaurants — they buy big packages,” Jimmy Parnell, president of the Alabama Farmers Federation, said. “Most of us, for our family, want a family-sized package. So that has changed the demand significantly. When you're selling a pound or two at a time versus 100 pounds at a time, it changes that flow of things.” Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Rogers: Proxy Voting Would Invite ‘All Kinds of Mischief’

Congressional Democrats are considering a rule change that could allow for remote or proxy voting to keep lawmakers from gathering in the U.S. Capitol during the coronavirus outbreak, but one Alabama congressman spoke out Thursday against the proposal. On a conference call with reporters, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican from Anniston, said he was "very much opposed" to a proxy voting plan because of security concerns. He's the lead Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee. Read more.

by Todd Stacy and Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Coronavirus Peaks In Alabama On April 20. Here’s What To Expect

In four days, coronavirus is expected to peak in Alabama. That’s according to projections that predict the state will have its highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations on that day. As of Thursday afternoon, there were 553 hospitalizations related to COVID-19, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. UAB Hospital has been preparing to ensure it has enough ICU beds and ventilators ahead of Monday’s peak. For more, we checked in for a Q & A with Dr. Sarah Nafziger, an emergency physician and co-director of UAB Hospital’s Emergency Management Committee about how things are looking. Read more.

by Gigi Douban, WBHM

New Coalition Pushes for Medicaid Expansion, Republicans Remain Reluctant

The spread of COVID-19 and the strain it has placed on Alabama’s health care system has inspired a new coalition to push for Medicaid expansion in the state, but support from Republican leadership still seems doubtful. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News