Science

COVID-19 Count Grows by 4,406 in Thursday Update

A total of 4,406 new cases of COVID-19 and 53 deaths from the disease were reported Thursday by the Alabama Department of Public Health. The counts for the past 24 hours brought the state's totals to 361,226 cases and 4,827 deaths since the pandemic began in March. The number of people being treated in Alabama hospitals for the coronavirus on Wednesday stood at 2,813, down slightly from the record of 2,815 the previous day. Overall, 33,831 people have been hospitalized in the state during the pandemic. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Here’s What Kids Yearn For in a Post-Pandemic World

While 2020 has been a difficult year for adults, it’s also been a strange and tough time for kids. Hear from young people across Alabama about what they are looking forward to once the coronavirus pandemic ends at WBHM.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

Doug Jones in Quarantine After Wife Tests Positive for COVID-19

Sen. Doug Jones reported Wednesday he is in quarantine after his wife tested positive for COVID-19 and he regretted missing a vote to override President Trump's veto of the defense spending bill. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Woodfin Tests Positive for COVID, Reports Mild Symptoms

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has tested positive for COVID-19. He announced the news in a press release Wednesday evening that quotes him as saying his symptoms are “currently mild.” While the mayor is self-quarantining, he is “still handling matters of the city,” according to the press release. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Alabama Adds More Than 5,000 Cases of COVID-19

Alabama added 5,016 new cases of COVID-19 and 37 deaths in Wednesday's daily update by the state Department of Public Health. The number of people in hospitals across the state for treatment of the coronavirus continued to rise and stood at a record 2,804 on Tuesday. That is up from 1,779 on Dec. 1. A total of 33,452 have been hospitalized since the pandemic began in March. The report brought the number of cases of COVID-19 in Alabama this year to 356,820. The state aeraged 3,179 new cases daily over the past week, up from 2,291 on Dec. 1. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

UAB’s Marrazzo Concerned About Rising COVID Numbers, but Hopeful About Vaccines

The top immunologist at UAB is still casting a wary eye on spikes in COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations, but she is also taking heart in the growing number of people being vaccinated for the virus. Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, the director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at UAB Hospital, said in a press conference Tuesday that Alabama is setting some “unenviable” records when it comes to COVID data. “We are now number six in the nation, per capita, for COVID cases on average over the last seven days,” Marrazzo said. “It’s not a good place for us to be in the top 10. We had fallen out of that list for a long time.” Alabama is averaging about 3,300 new cases per day, but Marrazzo said that number is probably higher because of delays in reporting tests over the holidays. Read more.

by Robert Carter

Alabama Hospitals Report Another Record Number of COVID-19 Patients

With the number of people in Alabama hospitals for COVID-19 steadily climbing, the state recorded 3,907 new cases of the disease and 25 deaths from it in Tuesday's update. The Alabama Department of Public Health, in its daily report, said a record 2,802 people were being treated in hospitals for COVID-19 on Monday. The number has risen each day from a count of 2,403 on Christmas Day.  UAB Hospital reported a record 207 COVID patients on Monday. The hospital's count had stood at 195 on Sunday. ADPH figures showed there have been 32,999 COVID patients in in Alabama hospitals over the course of the pandemic. Of those, 2,424 have been treated in intensive care units, with 1,394 on ventilators. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Jeffco Health Department Receives Moderna Vaccine

The Jefferson County Department of Health on Monday received its first allocation of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine.

by Gigi Douban, WBHM

UAB Hospital’s COVID-19 Inpatient Count Tops 200 for First Time

UAB Hospital set a record Monday morning when it reported 207 COVID inpatients. That is the first time the facility has surpassed the 200 mark, and it’s nearly triple the number reported in mid-November. Read more.

by Robert Carter

4,232 New Cases of COVID-19, 89 Deaths Reported Thursday

The Alabama Department of Public Health reported 4,232 new cases of COVID-19 and 89 deaths in its daily update on Thursday. The state has recorded 338,801 cases of the coronavirus and 4,676 deaths from the disease since the pandemic began in March. The agency has reported an average of 4,067 new cases a day over the past week. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch