Alabama Health Department Expands COVID-19 Restrictions

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2020/03/Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-e1584465135386.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:731;s:6:"height";i:411;s:4:"file";s:64:"2020/03/Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-e1584465135386.png";s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:64:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-e1584465135386-140x140.png";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:64:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-e1584465135386-336x189.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:62:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-e1584465135386-80x80.png";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:64:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-e1584465135386-600x338.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:64:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-e1584465135386-300x300.png";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:64:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-e1584465135386-553x311.png";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:64:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-e1584465135386-470x265.png";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:64:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-e1584465135386-125x125.png";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:9:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:732;s:6:"height";i:519;s:4:"file";s:41:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM.png";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-140x140.png";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-336x238.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:238;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:47:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-80x80.png";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-600x338.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:25:"wbhm-featured-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-300x300.png";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-439x311.png";s:5:"width";i:439;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-374x265.png";s:5:"width";i:374;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-17_at_12.11.42_PM-125x125.png";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Miranda Fulmore
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1656010406 
1584452789

The Alabama Department of Public Health announced Tuesday plans to expand a previously announced health order in Jefferson County to surrounding areas.

The new directives will now affect Tuscaloosa, Walker, Blount, St. Clair and Shelby counties.‬ The guidelines prohibit crowds of more than 25 people and on-site eating and drinking at restaurants and bars for at least a week.

Alabama Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris strongly encouraged other counties across the state to follow suit.

In addition, gatherings at senior centers are prohibited effective Wednesday, and private schools will close. Preschools and childcare centers with 12 or more children will also close until April 6. ‬

This comes as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama continues to rise. As of Tuesday morning, the state had 36 cases of COVID-19, with 20 of them found in Jefferson County. Harris says those numbers are bound to increase statewide.

“We understand that there can be a testing bias in Jefferson County because that’s where most of the testing is occurring, where most people are able to get access … but as we roll out testing [in other parts of the state] I think we’ll find additional cases,” Harris says.

ADPH expects to create up to 10 new screening sites across the state operating by the end of the week.

“The limiting step has been being able to obtain supplies like some protective equipment and swabs for testing,” Harris says.

 

What to know about Jeff Bezos’ upcoming Venice wedding — and the protests against it

Bezos will soon marry Lauren Sánchez in Venice. Protesters say the city, already grappling with overtourism, is putting the wedding over their needs — which city officials and wedding organizers deny.

Emmy nominations voting ends tonight. Here’s what our critic hopes will make the cut

Emmy voters have until tonight to send in their picks for nominees. Here's what NPR TV critic Eric Deggans thinks they should be voting for.

Iran attacks a U.S. base in Qatar

A U.S. defense official confirmed that the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar "was attacked by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran" and said there were no casualties.

‘Endling’ is a shape-shifting debut that takes on heavy themes with humor

Maria Reva's virtuosic novel starts out as a straightforward story about a Ukrainian biologist, but morphs into a comic take on war, the mail-order bride business and the plight of snails.

Home sales just posted their slowest May in 16 years

There are 20% more homes for sale this May — but it hasn't been enough to pull buyers off the sidelines amid high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty.

Climate change is boosting the risk of sleep apnea

Hotter temperatures make breathing problems during sleep more likely, even when it's not extremely hot

More Coronavirus Coverage