Alabama Sees ‘Unprecedented’ Surge In COVID-19 Hospitalizations
On Tuesday afternoon, Alabama hospitals were caring for more than 1,000 in-patients with COVID-19, up from about 200 at the beginning of July.
“We are still far below the peak that we saw in December and January … although I will tell you the slope of this increase, the rate at which the hospitalization numbers are going up, is unprecedented in Alabama,” said State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris during a media call Tuesday.
“This has shot up really, really quickly, which is very concerning to us.”

Harris said the surge is linked to the more contagious delta variant, coupled with Alabama’s low vaccination rate. The state is currently last in the nation, with about 32% of residents fully vaccinated.
Harris said health officials are desperately trying to increase that number.
“We are pushing every button and pulling every lever we can, but what works for some, doesn’t work for others,” Harris said. “It’s just difficult to reach some people.”
Some local groups have offered cash incentives and other perks to encourage vaccinations. Harris said that doesn’t work for everyone.
“We’re certainly not opposed to incentives at all,” he said. “However, I don’t know of an incentive program that’s been wildly successful anywhere.”
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has pushed back against the idea of incentivizing vaccinations.
“There are those who believe that government should mandate the vaccine or that we should bribe people to take it,” Ivey wrote in an op-ed published Tuesday in the Washington Post. “That’s not going to happen in my state, no matter how many times the media ask me.”
As COVID cases increase across the country, many health experts are calling for a return to universal mask-wearing, even among those who are fully vaccinated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its guidance Tuesday, stating that some fully vaccinated people should wear masks indoors if they live in areas with significant viral spread. The agency also recommended all teachers, staff and students of K-12 schools wear masks, regardless of vaccination status.
This week, Huntsville City Schools and Birmingham City Schools announced mask mandates for the beginning of the 2021 academic year.
Harris said the Alabama Department of Public Health is following CDC guidance and encourages mask-wearing, but a statewide mask requirement is unlikely.
How a post #MeToo law opened the floodgates for allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
The New York Adult Survivors Act gave alleged victims of sexual violence a one-year window to file civil claims, even after the statute of limitations had lapsed. It's a law that may have opened the doors for the federal investigation that landed Sean Combs in custody.
Here’s the 2025 list of Most Endangered Historic Places in the U.S.
This year, the annual list from the National Trust for Historic Preservation includes a mysterious castle, flooded communities in Florida and North Carolina, historic hotels and a gigantic turtle.
Many Afghans living in the U.S. fear being tortured or killed if they get deported
Roughly 200,000 Afghans came to the U.S. after the Taliban seized control in Afghanistan in 2021. Many are worried about their future as President Trump has steadily eliminated legal protections.
Alabama governor signs shark bite alert system into law named after teen who survived attack
The system will issue a public notice to cellphones when there's been a shark attack nearby. The law is named after Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin, who was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle last year.
Word of the Week: Before the Birdman of Alcatraz, the island was known for its birds
The origin story of Alcatraz's name is a complicated mix of language, a history that dates back to the first Europeans to explore the coast of California, and, a flock of seabirds.
Kari Lake says OAN’s far-right coverage will fuel Voice of America
Senior presidential adviser Kari Lake says Voice of America will rely on coverage from the far-right OAN network. OAN has offered unwavering support of President Trump.