coronavirus

Health Experts Warn Alabama May See Another COVID-19 Surge; Fauci Is Optimistic About A Vaccine

Health experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham warn that Alabama could see another surge of COVID-19 in the coming weeks. This comes as the number of new daily cases in the state continues to tick upward. “Unfortunately, we’re now heading up towards higher levels [of COVID-19 caseloads] than we’ve ever seen before,” said Dr. Michael Saag, a UAB infectious disease doctor. “Positivity rates of tests in Alabama are almost up to 25% now. That means one in four tests are coming back positive.” Saag said this indicates widespread community spread. He said the goal is to have a positivity rate of less than 5%. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, said that he predicts “with some degree of certainty” that in the next four to six weeks officials will have some answers to the question of vaccines. Read more.

by Miranda Fulmore, WBHM

Neither Gloom nor Rain Discourages These Voters From Casting Ballots

Rain Saturday did not deter hundreds of voters who lined up to vote their absentee ballot in person at the downtown Jefferson County courthouse. It was the last Saturday the two courthouses in Birmingham and Bessemer were to be open for absentee voters before Nov. 3’s election. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

UAB Study Suggests Stay-at-Home Orders Saved Lives This Spring

If no states had issued stay-at-home orders to their residents as the novel coronavirus swept across the country this past spring, the U.S. could have had 22% more deaths and 220% more people infected than if there had been a nationwide stay-at-home order, researchers at UAB have projected. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

UAB Doctor Warns of COVID-19 Surge, Urges Precautions as Flu Season Starts

COVID-19 cases in Alabama are surging just as Birmingham sees its first few flu cases, UAB epidemiologist Rachael Lee said Friday. The rise in the number of COVID-19 infections mirrors trends across most of the country, Lee told reporters. She urged people to continue to wash their hands, wear masks and maintain social distancing — measures that reduce the spread of both COVID-19 and influenza. Lee also recommended getting the flu vaccine since UAB has already diagnosed several patients with the flu.  “Places like Chile and Australia who just had their flu season had very, very low numbers because they were following all of these other COVID-19 mitigation strategies. So I'm hopeful that that, in addition to the flu vaccine, will really protect our community from seeing a surge,” Lee said. Read more.

by Angela Fu

Who Does the Coronavirus Attack and Kill in Alabama?

Individuals from 25 to 49 years old make up the biggest percentage of Alabamians who have contracted COVID-19, but adults who are 50 and older account for almost 95% of the deaths from the disease, the Alabama Department of Public Health reported Thursday. While people age 65 and up made up 16.8% of those who have contracted the coronavirus, they accounted for more than three of every four deaths. People aged 50 to 64 accounted for about 18% of the deaths. Read more details about who is getting and dying from COVID in Alabama.

by Glenn Stephens

Jefferson County Schools Plan to Expand Broadband to Serve Students Learning Virtually

Help is on the way for remote learners who have had little to no access to Wi-Fi. Meeting in Bessemer Thursday, the Jefferson County Commission amended the Cares Act Coronavirus Relief Fund subgrant agreement with the Jefferson County Board of Education to award an additional $4,648,600 to expand broadband capacity to reach students taking classes virtually. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Alabama’s COVID-19 Numbers Continue to Climb, with 1,390 New Cases

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Alabama continued to climb in Thursday's update by the Alabama Department of Public Health, reaching the highest single-day level in almost two weeks. The report showed 1,390 new cases, the most since a count of 1,490 on Oct. 9. There has been an average of 1,129 cases a day over the past week, the highest 7-day average since Sept. 5. Alabama has recorded 177,064 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March. That includes 154,942 confirmed cases and 22,122 listed as probable. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Demand For Bikes & Outdoor Gear Surges During Pandemic

The pandemic has driven many people outdoors, but finding the right gear could be a challenge. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

Numbers of Hospitalizations and New Cases Rise in Wednesday COVID-19 Reports

The number of COVID-positive inpatients at UAB rose Wednesday to its highest level in more than a month. The hospital was treating 73 COVID patients, according to its daily report. UAB had a peak of 124 inpatients with the disease on Aug. 3, and the number dropped to as low as 44 on Sept. 18. It fluctuated after that and stood at 61 on Oct. 16. It has risen steadily since then to Wednesday’s number. Statewide, the number of hospitalizations was up slightly on Tuesday -- the latest day for which figures were available -- to 863. That's highest since that same figure was reported on Sept. 4. The Alabama Department of Public Health’s COVID Dashboard showed 1,146 new cases of the disease and 23 deaths in Wednesday’s update. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Alabama Adds 1,043 Cases of COVID-19, 16 Deaths

The Alabama Department of Public Health reported 1,043 new cases of COVID-19 and 16 deaths in its daily update on Tuesday There have been 174,528 cases of the coronavirus in Alabama throughout the pandemic -- 153,016 confirmed as being from the disease and 21,512 listed as probable. The state has recorded 2,805 deaths from the disease, with 2,633 confirmed and 172 probable. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch