Alabama Health Officials Issue Update On Coronavirus Testing

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2020/03/Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-e1583878250246.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:698;s:6:"height";i:392;s:4:"file";s:63:"2020/03/Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-e1583878250246.png";s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:63:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-e1583878250246-140x140.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:63:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-e1583878250246-336x189.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:61:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-e1583878250246-80x80.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:63:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-e1583878250246-600x338.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:63:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-e1583878250246-300x300.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:63:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-e1583878250246-554x311.png";s:5:"width";i:554;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:63:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-e1583878250246-470x265.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:63:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-e1583878250246-125x125.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:698;s:6:"height";i:463;s:4:"file";s:40:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM.png";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_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:48:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-336x223.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:223;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:46:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_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:48:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_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:48:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_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:48:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-469x311.png";s:5:"width";i:469;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:48:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_PM-400x265.png";s:5:"width";i:400;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"Screen_Shot_2020-03-10_at_5.09.44_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] => Chad Davis
        )

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

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

)
1667071450 
1583860387

The Alabama Department of Health has tested fewer than 20 people for COVID-19, according to officials there. None has tested positive.

During a press conference Tuesday, Dr. Scott Harris, state health official with the ADPH, said the agency can test 150 cases a day but that the average person in Alabama doesn’t need to be tested.

Harris says the cases first must be referred to the department. Then, he says, a person must meet specific criteria before the state will administer a test. This includes:

  • Symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath
  • Travel from a country with widespread ongoing transmission of the virus
  • Travel from a hotspot in the U.S. such as Washington State
  • Prior exposure to someone known to be infected with the virus

Harris says populations at high-risk for getting very sick from the disease such as the elderly or those with suppressed immune systems will also be given priority. Harris says they’ll also test patients who are hospitalized and have tested negative for other diseases or viruses.

Harris says while ADPH has tested fewer than 20 people, there are two commercial labs also administering tests. Currently, LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics will administer tests, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham expects to have its own coronavirus test available in the next week or two.

Harris says none of these labs have reported positive tests. He says the ADPH upgraded the coronavirus to a “notifiable disease” last week, which means outside labs are required to report any positive tests to the state within four hours.

But Brian Hastings, director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, says just because no one has tested positive doesn’t mean the virus is not in Alabama.

“The one thing I would caution us on, and I’m going to knock on wood here, is that we have no confirmed cases in Alabama,” Hastings says. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that we don’t have a case in Alabama.”

Hastings says diseases affect people differently, so the coronavirus could appear minimal in younger populations that wouldn’t meet ADPH’s criteria for a test. He says officials expect someone in Alabama to eventually test positive for the virus.

“So recently, if you guys have been looking at the (national) data it actually shows that we’re increasing about 25-30% daily. So about every four days we should expect the numbers to double,” Hastings says. “So no one should be surprised by that. This is just managing some expectations here. This is called infectious disease.”

In the meantime, Harris says health officials are working on preventative measures. The ADPH has contacted more than 100 Alabamians who have traveled to other states. He says the department checks in daily to track their temperatures and symptoms.

Schools are also planning preventative measures.

Eric Mackey, Alabama’s education superintendent, says the week of March 22 about 90% of Alabama students will be on spring break. He says the department has recommended families cancel plans for overseas travel. It’s possible, he said, schools might issue advisories around domestic travel as well.

Mackey also says the department plans to temporarily close schools that have students, faculty or staff who test positive for the virus. He says those schools will then go through a deep cleaning. Mackey stresses that there are still no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Alabama schools.

But Dr. Mackey, Dr. Harris and Hastings all say it’s only a matter of time.

Photo by Chad Davis

 

Breaking down Alabama’s CHOOSE Act

It’s been a year since Alabama legislators passed the CHOOSE Act allowing families to apply for state funds to use towards homeschool expenses and tuition for participating private schools. The Alabama Daily News’ education reporter Trisha Powell Crain has been diving into how the funds are being used. WBHM’s Andrew Gelderman sat down with her to talk about what we’re seeing so far.

Huntsville is growing fast. Here’s how it’s stayed affordable

Home prices are rising in Huntsville, but so far, the city’s avoided the skyrocketing costs in other boom towns.

What are your unique holiday traditions? NPR wants to know

The holiday season is full of traditions and we all celebrate them a bit differently. NPR wants to your most unique holiday traditions. What makes celebrating this time of year feel special for you?

What are your unique holiday traditions? NPR wants to know

The holiday season is full of traditions and we all celebrate them a bit differently. NPR wants to your most unique holiday traditions. What makes celebrating this time of year feel special for you?

3 culinary tricks that might get you to eat more veggies, according to chef Roy Choi

Chef Roy Choi, known for his Korean-Mexican fusion food trucks, focuses on veggie-forward dishes in a new cookbook. He shares techniques to get you excited about your greens, plus 3 flavorful sauces.

3 culinary tricks that might get you to eat more veggies, according to chef Roy Choi

Chef Roy Choi, known for his Korean-Mexican fusion food trucks, focuses on veggie-forward dishes in a new cookbook. He shares techniques to get you excited about your greens, plus 3 flavorful sauces.

More Coronavirus Coverage