Science

Settlement Reached to Address ABC Coke Pollution

Birmingham-based clean-air advocate Gasp and the Southern Environmental Law Center have announced “significant improvements” to a consent decree to address ABC Coke’s illegal emissions of benzene and its effects on communities around northeast Birmingham and Tarrant. SELC intervened on behalf of Gasp in January 2020 to protest requirements set out by the consent decree agreed to by the Jefferson County Board of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the Drummond Company – which owns ABC Coke. SELC made the case that the requirements were inadequate to address ongoing violations and control of pollution from benzene, a known carcinogen. Read more.

New COVID-19 Cases Climb Friday to Highest Number in a Week

There were 3,551 new cases of COVID-19 in Alabama, the highest number for the past week, in Friday's daily report by the state Department of Public Health,  The count brought the state's total for the pandemic to 436,087. Alabama has averaged 2,651 cases a day over the past week. ADPH reported an additional 107 deaths, for a total of 6,486.  Read more.

Frustration Grows With Alabama’s Slow Vaccine Rollout

WBHM Alabama has administered less than half of its COVID-19 vaccine supply. So why do state health officials say supply is the main obstacle? Read more.

New Alabama COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations Falling as Ivey Extends Mask Mandate

The effects of the holiday season on the spread of COVID-19 may be slowing down in Alabama. In BirminghamWatch’s weekly analysis of COVID data across the state, the number of new daily cases has fallen significantly since peaking on Jan. 10, and fewer hospital beds have been occupied by those infected with the virus, as well. Death counts from the virus remain high, though many recent reports are from deaths that occurred as far back as November. The numbers come on the heels of Gov. Kay Ivey’s announcement Thursday morning that she would extend until March 5 her order that face masks must be worn in public places. The new order remains unchanged from the previous one, which was to expire on Friday. Read more.

Park Board Approves Making Legion Field a 24/7 Vaccination Site

The Football Capital of the South could soon be the COVID Vaccination Capital after the Birmingham Park Board voted unanimously today to approve measures to allow Legion Field to be used as a 24/7 COVID-19 vaccine distribution center. Read more.

COVID Vaccinations Begin for People 75+ Years Old

Jerry Drummonds’ only mistake in his Monday trip to the Jefferson County Department of Health was his fashion choice. The long-sleeved blue checkered shirt he wore just didn’t match the COVID-19 vaccine he was getting. “I had to take off my shirt because we couldn’t roll it up high enough to get to the meaty part of my shoulder,” the 83-year-old said. “And I don’t have that much meat.” The Vestavia Hills resident was among hundreds of persons – mostly seniors – who came to a pair of health department venues to get vaccinated for the virus. The vaccine also was administered at Gardendale High School. Monday was the first day of Stage 1b for vaccine distribution, which allows anyone 75 and older to get the shot. Stage 1a also still is in progress. It allows frontline workers, first responders and persons living in congregate settings, including homeless shelters and group homes, to be vaccinated. The Jefferson County Department of Health is administering vaccines at its location on Southside and at other varying locations for people who are 75 and older, as well as those who fell into Stage 1a. Read on for information about how to get a vaccine. Also Read:

Frustration Grows With Alabama’s Slow Vaccine Rollout

Alabama’s COVID-19 Numbers Show Promising Decline

The numbers of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalization rates for the disease in Alabama are showing an encouraging trend in reports this week by the state Department of Public Health. The weekly average number of new COVID-19 cases per day has dropped for nine consecutive days, from 4,280 a day on Jan. 10 to 2,671 in Tuesday’s report. The agency reported 2,515 new cases of the disease in its daily update on Tuesday, bringing the overall total since the pandemic began in March to 426,543. Read more.

JeffCo Commission Picks Up Where Feds Left Off, Will Pay for COVID Time Off

Today, Jefferson County picked up where the federal government left off, covering the cost of employees taking off because they’ve been exposed to or contracted the novel coronavirus. Following its committee meeting today, commissioners reconvened their Jan. 7 commission meeting to retroactively extend what had been provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Read more.

How Are Schools Handling Spring Semester Classes Amid COVID Fears?

The continuing spread of COVID-19 throughout the state of Alabama has raised questions about how schools plan to go into this 2021 spring semester, which begins Tuesday. Several schools have altered their plans from their fall semester operations, while some are continuing with the same conditions they had before the holiday. Particularly given the new, more infectious strain of COVID-19 that has made its way into the United States, safety precautions and social distancing measures are a top priority. Read more and see list of school systems.

COVID-19 Case Count for Alabama Declines for Fifth Straight Day

The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Alabama dropped for the fifth consecutive day in Friday's update by the state Department of Public Health. The agency reported 2,945 new cases in its daily summary, bringing the total for the pandemic to 417,528. There were 4,280 cases reported on Jan. 10, and the count has declined each day since then. Alabama has averaged 3,320 cases a day over the past week, down from an average of 4,280 a day on Jan. 10. Read more.