Veteran Events and Rituals Canceled
The list of events canceled by the COVID-19 threat continues to grow, and it now includes all ceremonies at national cemeteries for the next month to two months. Read more.
Science
Ordered to Stay at Home or Free to Wander? It Depends on Where you Live.
While a few municipalities — Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, in particular — have felt the need to institute stay-at-home orders with the force of law to slow the rate of coronavirus infections, most cities have taken a less restrictive approach. Some are suggesting that residents stay home. Others are saying only that they’re following the lead of the state and Jefferson County authorities. All of Alabama fell under an order closing non-essential businesses as of 5 p.m. Saturday. The Jefferson County Department of Health was the first entity to start strongly recommending people curtail their activities and almost two weeks ago issued an order closing all non-essential businesses and services, an order that was lifted when the statewide order took effect. But whether you’re required to abide by more restrictive measures depends on where you live. Read more.
COVID-19 Cases Rise to 766, 4 Deaths Confirmed
Four deaths from of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Alabama, the Alabama Public Health Department reported Saturday as the number of confirmed cases of the disease rose to 766. Three of the deaths were in the Tennessee Valley in north Alabama — one each in Jackson, Lauderdale and Madison counties. The fourth death was in Chambers County. The Birmingham area continued to be the hot spot, with 214 cases in Jefferson County and 73 in Shelby County, according to the Health Department. Read more.
Falling Tax Revenue Looms for State, Counties, Cities
Late April will bring financial pain for state and local governments as businesses in Alabama begin submitting lower taxes because of the coronavirus. With most restaurants, hotels and retail businesses either shut down or seeing little customer traffic, government officials expect a sharp decrease April 20 when they receive March sales and lodging taxes. The notable exceptions are sales taxes from grocery stores and online merchants. The situation has become so dire that the Alabama Department of Revenue is offering relief to hotels that are unable to make timely payments on their February, March and April lodging taxes. The department will waive late fees through June 1. The state is giving similar help for sales taxes on a case-by-case basis for merchants whose sales are affected by the virus. Read more.
Three Deaths, 639 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Alabama
Three people have died of COVID-19 in Alabama, the Alabama Public Health Department reported today as the number of confirmed cases of the disease rose to 639 in 53 of the state’s 67 counties. All three of the deaths were in the Tennessee Valley in north Alabama — one each in Jackson, Lauderdale and Madison counties. The Birmingham area continued to be the hot spot, with 179 cases in Jefferson County and 70 in Shelby County, according to the Health Department. Read more.
Alabama House Members Voted for $2.2 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill, Even Though They Didn’t Like All of It
Voterama in Congress WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives approved a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill during the legislative week ending March 27. Congress debated no other substantive measures during the week. Alabama’s House of Representatives members supported the bill, although not always happily.
Coronavirus Disrupts Charities’ Efforts
Charitable work has joined a long list of activities in the Birmingham area that have been disrupted in the coronavirus crisis. A survey of local nonprofit organizations found 83% of those reporting said they were not able to provide services to the same extent as customary. Read more.
Three Deaths, 604 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Alabama
Three people have died of COVID-19 in Alabama, the Alabama Public Health Department reported today as the number of confirmed cases of the disease rose to 604 in 52 of the state’s 67 counties. All three of the deaths were in the Tennessee Valley in north Alabama — one each in Jackson, Lauderdale and Madison counties. The Birmingham area continued to be the hot spot, with 179 cases in Jefferson County and 67 in Shelby County, according to the Health Department. Read more.
As Crisis Calls Increase, Domestic Violence Shelters Have COVID-19 Plans
MONTGOMERY — Domestic abuse crisis calls are increasing in Alabama and some police departments report slight decreases in other criminal activity as people are told to stay at home to slow down the spread of COVID-19. The YWCA Central Alabama shelter in Birmingham said it has received roughly double the number of calls to its crisis hotline on the weekend of March 20-21 compared to the average weekend. Domestic abuse shelters around the state haven’t seen a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking shelter but expect they will as people in already abusive relationships are isolated in their homes longer. “I don't think that that's a secret for anybody,” said Tay Knight, the executive director of the Family Sunshine Center in Montgomery. “When you put people in these situations, where they are isolated, where there are other stressors like maybe loss of employment or reduction in employment and things get tight from a financial perspective, that it is likely to just make the situation worse,” Knight said. Read more.
No Party, No Disco, No Fooling Around. State Closes All but Essential Businesses and Services.
Gov. Kay Ivey today announced intensified efforts to control the coronavirus outbreak in Alabama, with the state health officer prohibiting all non-work gatherings of 10 or more or of any size where people can’t stay 6 feet apart. The new order goes into effect starting at 5 p.m. Saturday and is expected to remain in effect until 5 p.m. April 17. The new order is from the state health officer and follows the lead of other authorities that have mandated a wide range of businesses and activities deemed non-essential most close or not operate. In announcing the order today, Ivey said: “Rather than shutting the entire state down, I propose a different solution. Today, I join Dr. (Scott) Harris in announcing a specific list of non-essential businesses that will close until April 17. If you can stay home, you are safer at home.” Read more.