Science

Auburn Professor to Start COVID-19 Vaccine Testing

An Auburn University professor will soon begin testing new COVID-19 vaccines to see how they work alone or with other ingredients to help slow the spread of the virus. Dr. Constantinos Kyriakis, an associate professor for the College of Veterinary Medicine, will head the testing while working with Professor Ted Ross, the director of the Center for Vaccines and Immunology at the University of Georgia. Kryiakis will begin animal trials to investigate the effectiveness of different vaccine candidates. The testing will involve vaccine candidates’ effectiveness at triggering an immune system response in pigs. The tests will see what other ingredients could trigger a greater immune system response, in order to make the most effective vaccine. Read more.

by Devin Pavlou, Alabama Daily News

Two Dead After Testing Positive for COVID-19 at Veterans Home at Alexander City

Two residents of one of the state’s four veterans homes have died after testing positive for the COVID-19, the state Department of Veterans Affairs stated this morning. The two veterans, 89 and 99 years of age, were among 25 residents who have tested positive for the virus at the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City.  In addition, 18 employees at the Nichols home also have tested positive for the virus, as have two employees at the William F. Green State Veterans Home in Bay Minette. Read more.

by Tom Gordon

Birmingham Commits Another $1 Million to Temporary Worker Program

City Council voted to allocate more funds to the city’s fight against COVID-19. The city’s coronavirus fund was given an additional $1 million for what Mayor Randall Woodfin called “phase two” of the city’s coronavirus response, which involves a temporary “Birmingham Strong Service Corps” worker program focusing on coronavirus testing, access to testing and food insecurity resulting from the pandemic. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

COVID-19 Deaths Reported in Alabama Top 100 as Cases Rise to 3,803

The number of cases in Alabama from the novel coronavirus rose to 3,803 Monday night, with 103 reported deaths, 62 of those confirmed through follow-up tests, according to the state Department of Public Health. Since March 13, 457 people have been hospitalized with the disease. Statewide, 28,486 people have been tested for the coronavirus. Every county now has confirmed cases. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Parole Hearings Will Resume With “Reduced Person-To-Person Interaction”

The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles will resume parole hearings May 18 after stopping them last month in response to COVID-19. Advocates say the state should expedite the parole process to protect inmates and alleviate prison crowding. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

There Will Be a Day After, but Then Comes the Day After That

UAB officials are starting to look toward the day when COVID-19 cases start to decline in Alabama, but there are no easy answers to what could come next. The most-watched model of coronavirus spread now predicts Alabama will hit its peak April 21, a week from Tuesday, though that date has varied over time. Government and public health officials are watching the numbers to determine when the state can begin the process of getting back to ‘normal.’ When cases do start to drop, those officials will be determining whether they can reopen businesses but require they maintain social distancing, for instance, Dr. Rachel Lee, UAB Hospital epidemiologist, said in a briefing Monday. Lee said people even after restrictions are lightened may have to continue some socially distancing if they want to stay healthy. They may have to cut back on hugging and shaking hands to thwart the coronavirus spread, she said. When movement restrictions are lightened, UAB professionals also will be getting ready for either a slow steady stream of COVID-19 patients or a potential surge of patients. They are planning for the possibility of having to bring COVID-19 operations back to full speed, if needed, Lee said. A decline in the disease does not mean it has gone away; previous pandemics have proved that, she said. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

Surviving A Pandemic: How The 1918 Spanish Flu Changed Life in Alabama

In 1918, Edna Register Boone and her family were living in the rural community of Madrid in south Alabama. “I was 10 years old and my family was the only family in the little town that did not contact the flu,” Boone said. “Therefore my parents became automatic nurses.” In a 2007 interview with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Boone described her memories of living through the Spanish Influenza pandemic. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

Schools Faced Social Distancing Hurdles in Meal Prep and Distribution

Preparing thousands of school meals for low-income children while school has been out due to coronavirus hasn’t been easy. Distributing those meals has been another challenge unto itself. That’s why some area school systems have had an on-again off-again relationship with providing meals to children since schools closed statewide about a month ago. Tens of thousands of low-income children in Birmingham and Jefferson County depend on free or reduced-price school meals. This week marks the first full week that both systems will outsource their feeding programs to a local nonprofit. But with the chaos of coronavirus, things got off to a rocky start. Read more.

by Gigi Douban, WBHM

As COVID-19 Projections Decline, Some Ask for Easing of Restrictions

While state leaders are making plans for re-opening businesses shuttered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some would like to see at least a few restrictions eased prior to the planned April 30 timeline. Public health orders in March and April told Alabamians to stay home unless for specific reasons, closed many businesses and put occupancy limits on others, including retailers. While grocery stores can remain open, some smaller retailers had to close. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Life in a Takeout World

Ella Mae Irby, a fixture at Bogue's Restaurant in Birmingham, talks about the effect COVID-19 has had on her and the restaurant.

by Tom Gordon