coronavirus

COVID-19 New-Case Numbers Show Sharp Uptrends; Jefferson County Leads State Total Cases List

The numbers of new cases of COVID-19 infections are rising sharply across Alabama — and in Jefferson County in particular. The BirminghamWatch weekly analysis of data reported by the Alabama Department of Public Health shows that the 7-day moving average of new cases reported daily is increasing at an alarming rate. As of Wednesday’s update by ADPH, the average has increased by 44% since the previous week and 64% over eight days. The current 7-day average stood at 974 new daily cases on Wednesday. The longer-term 14-day moving average reached a record high, at 823.43 cases per day. That’s a 20% hike from June 23 but nearly double the 440 average on June 1 and more than four times the reading on May 1, of 194.43. Read more.

by Robert Carter

COVID-19 Toll in Alabama Accelerates in Wednesday Report

The COVID-19 toll in Alabama continued to accelerate Wednesday, growing by 906 confirmed cases and 21 deaths, the state Department of Public Health's 24-hour update showed. There had been 854 new cases on Tuesday. Jefferson County, the state's most populous, continued to lead the way with 177 new cases, bringing its total to 4,387, and two deaths for a total of 142 since the state began counting COVID-19 results on March 13. Statewide, there have been 38,442 confirmed cases, plus 509 listed as probably from the disease but not yet confirmed. The death toll stands at 947, with another 24 probably from the virus. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Ivey Extends COVID-19 Health Order Through July

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey extended a public health order Tuesday, which allows businesses, entertainment venues and beaches to operate provided they follow social distancing, sanitation and other guidelines, until July 31st. The order would have expired Friday and comes as new coronavirus cases have risen sharply through June. “While we are not overwhelmed yet, we should not think that because our summer feels more normal than our spring that we are back to normal,” Ivey said at a press conference Tuesday morning. “The fact is, folks, we are still in the thick of this virus, disease and it is deadly.” Read more.

by Andrew Yeager, WBHM

State Reports 854 New COVID-19 Cases, 21 Deaths

Alabama recorded 854 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 21 deaths in the most recent 24-hour period, the state Department of Public Health reported Tuesday morning. There have been 37,536 cases and 926 deaths attributed to the disease since the pandemic began in March, the department's COVID Dashboard showed. Another 493 cases and 24 deaths were listed as probable, meaning they are believed to have been from the disease but have not been confirmed. The state has averaged 980 new cases a day over the past week and 787 cases a day for the past 14 days. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

College Students to Be Tested for Coronavirus Using Federal Allotment

Colleges and universities in Alabama and some underserved regions of the state will benefit from $30 million of the state’s federal allocation from the Cares Act, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Monday. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Number of COVID-19 Cases in Alabama Climbs, Death Toll Reaches 905

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 cases in Alabama continues to climb, reaching 36,682 in the Alabama Department of Public Health's daily report Monday. The death toll from the disease stood at 905 since the pandemic began in March. The Health Department did not have complete results available for its daily report on Sunday, and did not have figures on how many new cases there were during the 24-hour period through Monday. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Decline Reported Sunday in New COVID-19 Cases in Alabama Result of Data Glitch

The Alabama Department of Public Health's daily dashboard reported a significant drop Sunday in the number of confirmed new COVID-19 cases in Alabama, but officials said that was because of a computer glitch. Reports from labs that process the majority of coronavirus tests did not process, the Health Department said on its Twitter feed. The testing numbers reported Monday morning should include the cases and deaths that were not counted over the weekend. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

COVID-19 Total Continues to Grow in Alabama, with Deaths Nearing the 900 Mark

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew by 888 in the Alabama Department of Public Health's daily report Saturday, and there were 11 new deaths. There have been 34,605 cases of the disease in Alabama since the pandemic began in mid-March. The daily average of new cases now stands at 742 over the past two weeks and at 782 for the last seven days. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Face Masks Required Throughout Jefferson County, Health Officer Orders

Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson on Friday issued a mandatory mask-wearing order to begin Monday at 5 p.m. in an effort to reduce the increasing number of countywide COVID-19 cases. "The virus is getting worse in Jefferson County, and we are moving in the wrong direction," Wilson said. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Alabama Schools to Open in August, But Parents Have Home Education Option

Updated: Alabama public schools will reopen in August despite the COVID-19 pandemic, but parents will have the option of continuing distance learning for their children, Alabama Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey said Thursday. "Campuses will reopen for personal instruction. They will be physically open, with remote learning" available, Mackey said. There also will  be a “blended” learning situation that allows students to transition between traditional and remote instruction as needs arise, he said. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald