Fourth Inmate Dies With the Coronavirus
A fourth inmate in the Alabama prison system has died after testing positive for the coronavirus. Read more.
Science
UAB Treating Its Highest Number of Coronavirus Patients Since the Pandemic Began, Health Experts Say
The number of hospital patients with COVID-19 and people testing positive for the virus continues to spiral across Alabama and in Jefferson County, health experts participating in a UAB Hospital press conference said Monday. In the past seven to 14 days, 8% of people tested for the coronavirus had been showing positive results. But in the past seven days, that proportion has risen to 13%, said Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, director of UAB’s Division of Infectious Diseases. Seattle, once a hotspot, is now down to 1.5%, she added. Today, UAB has 68 COVID-19 patients, which Marazzo said is the highest number ever. Usually about half the UAB patients with COVID-19 are on ventilators. Read more.
Ivey Stresses Personal Responsibility as COVID-19 Cases Shoot Up in Alabama
Gov. Kay Ivey's office said this morning that the governor and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris are closely monitoring the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state. "Until our next update, Gov. Ivey continues to reiterate that the threat of this virus is not behind us," her press secretary, Gina Maiola, said in an emailed response to BirminghamWatch. She said Ivey continues to stress the need for personal responsibility during the pandemic. "Our health care workers are doing their part. We are seeing businesses make sacrifices, and Gov. Ivey has faith in the people of Alabama to be smart as we wade through this health crisis," Maiola added. Alabama is among 21 states that have seen increases in their average daily coronavirus cases this week, according to data compiled by the Washington Post. Alabama, Oregon and South Carolina are among the states with the biggest increases. Alabama reported a 92% increase in its seven-day average; Oregon was up 83.8% and South Carolina, 60.3%, according to the Post data. Read more.
Growth of COVID-19 Cases in Alabama Slows Monday
After four days of dramatic increases, the growth in the number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama slowed on Monday, the Alabama Department of Public Health reported. There were 657 new cases of the disease during the 24-hour period that ended at 10 a.m. Monday, the agency reported. That brought the state's total to 25,892 since the pandemic began in mid-March. Another 380 cases were believed to have been from COVID-19 but have not been confirmed. The report listed one new death from the virus, raising the overall total to 769, plus five that are believed to have been from the disease but have not been confirmed. Read more.
Health Officials Urge Public to Redouble Social Distancing Efforts as Cases in Alabama Shoot Up
State health officials are pressing the message that Alabamians need to protect themselves as COVID-19 cases in the state continue their sharp increase. Read more.
Another Record: Alabama Tops 1,000 New COVID Cases in One Day
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama rose sharply again Sunday, with state health officials reporting 1,014 new patients. The death toll for the disease remained at 768. The Alabama Department of Public has now confirmed 25,235 cases of the disease since the pandemic began in March. Another 380 people are believed to have COVID-19, but their cases are still being investigated. The statewide death toll for the disease was unchanged, according to the Health Department’s report for the period of 10 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday. Five other deaths are believed to have been from COVID-19, but have not been confirmed. Read more.
Spread of COVID-19 in Alabama Continues Saturday at a Record Pace
The spread of COVID-19 cases in Alabama continued to accelerate Saturday, with state health officials reporting a third day of record numbers. In its daily update, the Alabama Department of Public Health said there were 888 new confirmed cases of the disease across the state, bringing the total to 24,221 since the pandemic began. The department had reported 859 new cases on Friday and 848 on Thursday, both records at the time. The new report, covering the period of 10 a.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday, included four new deaths, bringing the statewide overall total to 768. Read more.
Third Prison Inmate Died With COVID-19
A third Alabama prison inmate has died after testing positive for the coronavirus, the Department of Corrections announced today. All three inmates to have died after testing positive for the coronavirus have been at the St. Clair Correctional Facility. Read more.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Hit All-Time High This Week
As of Friday, there have been four days this week when the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 went over 600, marking the highest period for hospitalizations since the pandemic began in March. Read more.
Jones Says Systemic Racism is Part of a Crisis Trifecta the Country Faces
U.S. Sen. Doug Jones said today that the nation is in the midst of a “crisis trifecta” from the pandemic, the economic crisis and the battle for equal rights and treatment, and black Americans are disproportionately affected by each of those. Jones spoke during a Facebook live video conference with Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. “The events of the past few weeks have laid bare the fact that structural and systemic inequality exist in almost every layer of society in the United States of America,” Jones said. “We are in what I have called a crisis trifecta — from the coronavirus pandemic, to the economic crisis and the moral awakening of so many people in this country to the fact that there are so many of our brothers and sisters who are still being denied equal opportunities, equal rights and equal dignities.” Read more.