Science

Average COVID-19 Case Numbers Sink to Lowest Level in Eight Months

The state's daily average number of new cases of COVID-19 has fallen to its lowest level in more than eight months, according to Tuesday's update by the Alabama Department of Public Health. ADPH reported 524 new cases of the disease. The state has averaged 583 cases a day over the past week, the lowest weekly average since a count of 597 on June 22. There have been 500,616 cases in Alabama since the pandemic began a year ago. The daily update listed 38 deaths, for an overall total of 10,186. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Environmental Groups Say Water Board Isn’t Effectively Protecting Drinking Water Supply

Two local environmentalist groups are suing the Birmingham Water Works Board alleging it failed to comply with a 2001 consent decree that ordered protection of undeveloped land around the Cahaba River watershed, a major source of Birmingham’s drinking water. Cahaba Riverkeeper and the Cahaba River Society, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, have filed a complaint in Jefferson County Circuit Court hoping to compel the BWWB to place permanent protections, overseen by an independent third party, on its land holdings surrounding the Cahaba River, the Little Cahaba River and Lake Purdy. The lawsuit cites the worry that, because the land in question is “some of the last undeveloped land in a rapidly urbanizing area,” the BWWB may cave to “intense development pressure.” In some cases, plaintiffs say, the board already has. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Lawmaker: During Pandemic ‘Compassionate Care’ Needed in Health Facility Visitor Policies

On Oct. 21, Bonnie and Harold Sachs entered a north Alabama emergency room because, despite a negative COVID-19 test, Harold Sachs’ symptoms, including decreased blood oxygen levels, were worsening. He was tested again and, when the results were positive, he was admitted to the hospital. Bonnie Sachs kissed her husband of 50 years before he was taken to the COVID unit. She wouldn’t see him in person again until he died Nov. 9. “He didn’t know me, he was on a ventilator,” Bonnie Sachs told Alabama Daily News. Harold and Bonnie Sachs’ and many similar stories in the past year are the reason Sen. Garlan Gudger said he filed Senate Bill 307, which says that, during public health emergencies, health care facilities shall continue to allow visitors under certain conditions. “I think everyone needs compassionate care at the end of life,” Gudger, R-Cullman, told Alabama Daily News. “And I think they need their family to be there to help patients get over whatever illness or virus.” Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

COVID-19 Cases Continue to Drop, Even as Alabama’s Total Passes a Half Million

The daily number of new COVID-19 cases in Alabama dropped Monday to its lowest level since early last summer, though the state's total for the pandemic moved past the 500,000 level. The Alabama Department of Public Health reported 273 new cases of the coronavirus in its daily update, the lowest daily figure since the count of 220 on June 3. That pushed the total to 500,092 -- 10.19% of the state's population. Alabama has averaged 601 cases a day over the past week, the lowest since an average of 598, also on June 3. The number of people being treated in hospitals for COVID-19 also continued to fall. ADPH said there were 494 inpatients on Sunday, down from a total of 1,528 one month ago and a high of 3,084 on Jan. 11. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Alabama’s Senators Among Republicans Who Opposed $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Bill That Won Senate Approval

WASHINGTON — The Senate on a highly partisan vote Saturday approved a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The vote on (HR 1319) was 50 for and 49 against. Both of Alabama’s senators joined every Republican present to vote against the bill, which now goes to the House of Representatives. However, the Senate blocked a Democratic move to increase the minimum wage that had been in the bill. On the House side, representatives in the week that ended March 5 passed a multi-faceted bill aimed at expanding voting in the U.S. and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, both mostly along party lines. Read more.

by Voterama in Congress

COVID-19 Count Nears Half-Million Level in Alabama

Alabama's COVID-19 count crept toward the half-million mark Saturday as the state Department of Public Health reported 524 new cases of the disease. That brought the number of cases of the coronavirus in the state to 499,411 over the course of the year-long pandemic. The agency added 65 deaths in its daily update, raising the overall number to 10,149. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Alabama Adds 811 Cases of COVID-19, 28 Deaths

Alabama added 811 new cases of COVID-19 and 28 deaths from the disease in Friday's daily update by the state Department of Public Health. There have been 498,887 cases of the coronavirus in the state since the pandemic began last March. The report  showed a total of 10,122 deaths. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Mask Mandate Continues, but Other COVID Restrictions Easing, Governor Announces

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Thursday extended a statewide mandate requiring residents to wear face masks as protection from the coronavirus in public places and businesses until after Easter at 5 p.m. She also eased restrictions on restaurants and bars, hospitals and nursing homes. Ivey declared this would be the last mask mandate for Alabama. “We have to get past Easter before we take the steps that other states have taken,” she said. “But let me make this perfectly clear, we will not continue mask orders after April 9.” Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Number of COVID-19 Vaccine Shots Given in Alabama Surpasses 1 million

More than a million doses of vaccines for COVID-19 have been administered in Alabama, the state Department of Public Health said Thursday. In its daily update, the agency said 1,003,396 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been given, and 352,749 individuals have received both shots. A total of 1,475,925 doses have been delivered to the state. ADPH reported 922 new cases of the coronavirus in Thursday's daily update, bringing the total to 498,076 since the pandemic began a year ago. There were 65 new deaths, raising the total to 10,094. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

UAB and JeffCo to Expand Vaccine Outreach in Underrepresented Communities

As of Wednesday, UAB had administered roughly 80,000 vaccine doses, but Black residents remain disproportionately underrepresented. Read more.

by Miranda Fulmore, WBHM