Science

Alabama Republicans Criticize New Pelosi Relief Bill

Republican members of Alabama’s Congressional delegation are none too pleased with a new coronavirus relief bill pushed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with some calling the $3 trillion plan “liberal la la land” and a “socialist wish list” that won’t pass the Senate. Pelosi has said she wants a vote Friday on the package that includes more than $900 billion to state and local governments, a second round of $1,200 checks to individuals and up to $6,000 per household, a $200 billion hazard pay fund for essential workers, health insurance subsidies for laid-off workers, $175 billion for rent and mortgage assistance, $25 billion to boost the U.S. Postal Service and an extension of $600-a-week supplemental unemployment benefits. “It’s nothing but a socialist wish list that has no chance of passing the Senate, so it’s an incredible waste of time,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, who represents east Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District. Read more.

Five COVID-19 Cases at State Mental Hospital for the Elderly; Admission to State Mental Hospitals Halted

Five patients at the state’s Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center have tested positive for COVID-19 since May 1. The positive cases came from two of four units in the hospital in Tuscaloosa. Interactions among the elderly patients, many of whom have dementia, in those units have been limited, Dr. Mark Woods, medical director for the Alabama Department of Mental Health, told Alabama Daily News on Wednesday. “You have to realize, social distancing in this population is very, very difficult,” Woods said. “You know, you don’t want to restrain or force this population that already has a major issue with confusion. Any restrictions are very difficult. Read more.

Are Alabama’s COVID-19 Numbers Really Leveling Out? It Depends on Which Numbers You Look At.

The efforts to reopen Alabama’s economy continue this week, as Gov. Kay Ivey relaxed more regulations in her “Safer-at-Home” initiative. In the process of deciding what to open and when, state and health officials continue to look at data to see what effects the regulations have on the number of COVID-19 cases reported and deaths attributed to the disease. The question is: which pieces of data are government officials using to gauge the effects? The Alabama Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 web page shows the raw number of cases and deaths continue to increase, and the number of additional cases each day has been 221 or more for the seven-day period of May 7-13. But another way to look for trends is to use the percentage increase in cases and deaths. Read more.

Census Response Map Shows Lags as Field Operations Restart

About 1.4 million Alabama households have turned in their 2020 census forms, a state self-response rate of 56.7% compared to a national rate of 58.6%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. State agencies are now putting extra effort in those parts of the state where responses are lagging. A swath of Black Belt and southern counties, and a few in north Alabama, are trailing in mail-in, internet and telephone replies, according to a map maintained by the Census Bureau. Early this week, Coosa County in central Alabama had the lowest return rate at 26.6%. The response rate data is based on 2018 and 2019 population estimates. Census kickoff efforts in March and April got off to a slow start because of the coronavirus. Read more and see interactive map.

Community Colleges Plan to Open Campuses in Fall; System Works to Improve Distance Learning

MONTGOMERY — Alabama Community College System leadership on Wednesday said campuses are planning to reopen in the fall, subject to guidance from Gov. Kay Ivey regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

Some Restaurants Continue Curbside Service Despite Relaxed Restrictions

Gov. Kay Ivey’s updated “safer-at-home” order puts most of the hospitality industry back to work. Some business owners were quick to open their doors, but others are sticking with curbside service only. Read more.

Dogs Gone: Live Greyhound Racing Ends at Birmingham Race Course

The COVID-19 pandemic is known for being fatal mostly to those who were in poor health before they were infected. One of the latest victims of the virus would certainly fit that description, even though the victim is not a person, but a well-known institution. The Birmingham Race Course, which began in 1987 as a Thoroughbred racing facility and which added greyhound racing in 1992, has run its last live race. The announcement came on April 22 from Kip Keefer, the head of the Birmingham Racing Commission, after he found out from track owners. Read more.

Alabama Adds 300 COVID-19 Cases, 32 Die Tuesday

Thirty-two people died of the novel coronavirus in Alabama on Tuesday and 300 new cases were added, bringing the state’s totals since the pandemic began to 435 deaths and 10,464 cases. Men and blacks have died at disproportionately high rates. Blacks make up 44.2% of the deaths, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health, although the state’s population is just 26.8% black, according to the Census Bureau. Men make up 55.2% of the COVID-19 deaths but 48.4 percent of the state’s population. Read more.

23 Deaths at Alabama VA Home Attributed to COVID-19

Twenty-three residents at the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City have died from the COVID-19 virus, the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs said Tuesday. There are 41 active resident cases of the virus, according to department spokesman Bob Horton. Read more.

Face Covering Law in Birmingham Extended Through Next Week; Curfew Lifted

Birmingham’s public safety curfew is no longer in effect, but the ordinance requiring masks or face coverings to be worn in public has been extended for another week. The Birmingham City Council made those changes in response to Gov. Kay Ivey’s amended “safer-at-home” order, which went into effect Monday. The new order significantly loosened restrictions on public gatherings and allowing non-essential businesses, such as bars, restaurants and salons, to reopen “subject to social-distancing and sanitation rules.” Read more.

Restaurants, Gyms and Salons Reopening Slowly Under New COVID-19 Emergency Order