What’s the Name of the Virus Causing this Pandemic
So, what is causing this pandemic? Coronavirus? COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2? Same virus, different names. The formal name is SARS-COV2, but COVID-19 can be used, as can coronavirus. Read more.
coronavirus
Alabama to Follow Feds on April 15 Tax Deadline Change
The Alabama Department of Revenue expects to delay the April 15 tax payment deadline for state tax filers but is waiting for direction from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Read more.
ABC Temporarily Closing 78 Stores
The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is temporarily closing 78 stores and reducing hours at others today in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. “Because of staffing requirements and health concerns, we believe that closing some of our stores will provide the greatest amount of employee/customer protection, while ensuring maximum productivity and efficiency,” ABC’s government relations manager, Dean Argo, said in an email. Stores remaining open will operate from noon to 7 p.m. Read more.
Jefferson County and Birmingham Under Emergency Declarations for Coronavirus
The Jefferson County Commission and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin declared states of emergency for the county and city Monday in an attempt to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The County Commission approved an emergency declaration and voted to close county facilities, effective at the end of business on Monday, until April 6. The commission will reevaluate the situation then. Woodfin, in declaring the state of emergency for the city, suggested that events be limited to attendance of 25 people or less. Read more.
Alabama Sees More Closings to Prevent the Spread of the Coronavirus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending cancelation of any planned gatherings of 50 or more people in the next two months, an extraordinary measure but just the latest of the dominos to fall in the effort to dampen the spread of the novel coronavirus. The federal and state governments already have declared states of emergency, and the Jefferson County Commission voted this morning to declare a state of emergency and close county facilities at the end of business today. As part of the state’s preventative measures, Gov. Kay Ivey said in a memo to department heads on Sunday that, other than departments that provide essential services, they should instruct any workers who can to work from home until April 6. If employees can’t work from home, they are to be placed on paid emergency leave and stay away from their workplace until April 6. UAB and Samford University followed similar patterns, saying only essential personnel should enter the campuses. Workers who can work from home will be doing so, and those who can’t will be on leave for the next two weeks. The number of COVID-19 cases in Alabama rose to 28 on Monday — 17 in Jefferson County; three in Tuscaloosa County; three in Shelby County; and one each in Baldwin, Elmore, Lee, Limestone and Montgomery counties. Nationally more than 3,400 cases of the coronavirus and 68 deaths have been reported. Read more about developments on the coronavirus front.
House Passes Coronavirus Relief Funds; Alabama’s Byrne Is in the Minority Opposing the Spending
Voterama in Congress WASHINGTON — The House overwhelmingly approved a coronavirus relief and economic stimulus coronavirus-related spending bill Saturday that would spend tens of billions of dollars in stimulus and safety-net spending to cushion the economic and social impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Ala., was among the minority voting against the bill, which passed 363-40. He said in a statement that representatives were given a 110-page bill and asked to vote on it 26 minutes later. “Although I agree with many of the provisions in this legislation, this is no way to govern. We should be sending a message of calm and steady leadership in the face of this crisis, not forcing through bills in the dead of night,” he said in the statement. Read more.
Schools, Food Banks Prepare to Feed Children During Coronavirus-Forced Closure
Alabama Daily News MONTGOMERY — The Alabama State Department of Education as well as food banks throughout the state are working to feed children when schools close next week in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Kay Ivey announced Friday that all public K-12 schools will be closed after Wednesday with the goal of reopening on Monday, April 6. Ivey also announced a state of emergency Friday. State Superintendent Eric Mackey said students on free and reduced-price lunch will still be given meals during closures and food banks around the state said they are prepared to help with the need. Several school systems have announced they would close as of Monday, earlier than the state-mandated closing, and that they would continue serving meals to children at the schools. Read more.
Life Goes on Despite the Coronavirus Threat
Many folks may be lying low because of the coronavirus threat or locked in lines under harsh fluorescent lights trying to stock up on toilet paper. But you would not have known it Saturday afternoon in Railroad Park. As passing clouds competed with the sun, people of all ages and backgrounds were in the park’s walkways and open spaces. There were dog-walkers, families, skateboarders, picnickers, Frisbee enthusiasts, sunbathers, kids on scooters and even a young lady in a ballgown celebrating her Quinceañera (15th birthday) with about a dozen friends, relatives and photographers. Read more.
Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Rise to 22, 12 in Jefferson County; Residents Continue Scavenging Supplies
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have risen to 22, 12 of them in Jefferson County. Also Sunday, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control recommended canceling any gathering of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks. Otherwise, Alabamians through the weekend flocked to stores, clearing out entire sections as they stocked up on supplies. Read more.
Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Centers on Lockdown
Alabama nursing homes and assisted living facilities went into lockdown Saturday in the wake of the president declaring a national state of emergency from the COVID-19 virus. The facilities are implementing a no-visitors regulation from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Read more.