Coronavirus

High Demand For COVID-19 Vaccine Strains Health Departments In South

An uneven vaccine rollout across Southern states is causing frustration. Health departments are overwhelmed with people seeking shots as phone lines and websites are unable to keep up with the demand.

What You Need To Know About The COVID Vaccine Rollout In Alabama

Answers to your questions about the coronavirus vaccine rollout in Alabama. Who is eligible? How can you sign up to get a vaccine?

Next Phase of COVID-19 Vaccinations In Jefferson County Could Start Next Week

The state authorized all counties to begin vaccinating first responders and people 75 years and older. But health officials say it will likely be next week before they can start doing that.

Partly Numb, A UAB ICU Nurse Finds Ways To Carry On

Caring for record numbers of coronavirus patients in the hospital takes a heavy toll on health care workers like Kelsey Jacks.

Bernard Lockhart’s Work Ethic Fueled His Passion For Jazz And Community-Building

Bernard Lockhart, founder of Avondale's Jazz in the Park, died last month from complications related to COVID-19.

Hotels, Recovery Rooms And Waiting Rooms Pressed Into Service As UAB’s Patient Load Rises

UAB Hospital is daily caring for a record number of new COVID-19 patients. These patients have been hospitalized because they are very sick or may be unable to survive without intensive medical care, according to UAB.

Overwhelmed With COVID Patients, Alabama Hospitals Near Crisis Level

With more than 3000 people hospitalized with COVID-19, Alabama's hospitals are transferring patients out of state and cutting services.

Birmingham Council Goes Virtual, Mayor Still Hospitalized

Jefferson County's recent spike in COVID-19 cases — along with Mayor Randall Woodfin’s recent COVID diagnosis and hospitalization — finally pushed the city council's weekly meeting fully online.

Woodfin Hospitalized With COVID

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin was hospitalized Monday for symptoms related to COVID-19.

‘Oh My God!’ Alabama Running Out Of ICU Beds, And The Christmas Rush Hasn’t Even Begun

Alabama's ICU beds are filling up and the state has not yet seen the rush of new cases from holiday gatherings, according to the president of the Alabama Hospital Association.

Here’s What Kids Yearn For In A Post-Pandemic World

As we welcome a new year, we asked kids what they're most looking forward to after the pandemic.

UAB’s Marrazzo Concerned About Rising COVID Numbers, But Hopeful About Vaccines

Alabama ranks third in the nation in per capita hospitalizations for COVID-19.

Jeffco Health Department To Roll Out Moderna Vaccine

The health department will soon begin its vaccine rollout as UAB drafts a timeline for making the vaccine available to more employees.

Alabama Labor Department Discontinues In-Person Unemployment Assistance

Labor officials cite safety concerns as the primary reason for moving to a phone-based system.

Annual Birmingham-Area Bird Count Canceled Due To Pandemic

Since Alabama Audubon's Christmas Bird Count won't happen this year, researchers could miss out on data about bird populations.

Birmingham Revenue Appears Stable, Council Extends Funding For Rickwood, McWane And Ruffner

The city of Birmingham has approved contracts with three area nonprofits — Friends of Rickwood Field, McWane Science Center and Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. These nonprofits previously had their funding cut by the city because of the pandemic.

Moderna Vaccine For COVID-19 Has Arrived In Alabama

Alabama will receive its first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine today.

Local Area Hospitals Near ICU Capacities

As of Thursday, more than 2,400 COVID patients were hospitalized across the state. About 25% of those hospitalizations were in Jefferson and Shelby counties.

Coronavirus Deaths Mount In Alabama Prisons

More than 50 Alabama inmates have died from COVID-19.

A Visit With Santa? It’s Still Happening Despite The Pandemic

How do you visit Santa in a pandemic? It's a question retailers, families and Santa himself are dealing with this season.

Hospital Officials Urge Against Holiday Gatherings In Open Letter To Alabamians

Birmingham-area hospital officials are asking Alabamians to take all possible precautions to stop the spread of the disease, including avoiding holiday gatherings with people who do not live in their households.

UAB Hospital Receives First Delivery Of Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine, Vaccinations Begin Thursday

UAB Hospital received its first shipment of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday morning.

Spend It All: JeffCo Commission Makes Sure to Leave No Cares Act Money On The Table

The county commissioners sought to tie up any loose ends for Cares Act money at its meeting on Tuesday.

Providers Plan For Vaccinating Millions of Rural Alabamians

As Alabama receives its first allotment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, health officials anticipate challenges distributing the vaccine in rural communities.

Local COVID-19 Hospitalizations Spike As Alabama Faces Shortages In Number Of Available Healthcare Workers

Experts predict that number of new COVID-19 hospitalization will continue to rise in the coming weeks.

UAB Predicts COVID Hospital Patients Will Double By Christmas, Vaccines Expected Soon

In a gathering of 20 people, there's more than a 50% chance that one person in that gathering will be infectious and contagious with COVID-19, according to Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson.

UAB Hospital Braces For ‘Terrifying’ Increase in COVID Hospitalizations

As COVID case numbers continue to increase, UAB Hospital is predicting a dramatic surge in hospitalizations next week.

Gov. Ivey Extends Mask Order Into 2021

Governor Kay Ivey is extending Alabama’s Safer-at-Home order until January 22, 2021.

COVID-19 Hospitalization Number Reaches Record High In Alabama

Alabama's COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a new record, according to the state department of public health.

Alabama Health Officials Hope To Receive First COVID-19 Vaccines Next Friday

Alabama will receive about 41,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, which will be distributed at 16 vaccination sites at hospitals across the state.

Food Banks Struggle To Meet Increasing Demand During Holiday Season

Some Birmingham-area food banks are scrambling to keep food on the table for their clients.

Educators Mixed on Governor’s Push For In-Person Learning

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said the longer schools are disrupted, the more likely kids will suffer academically.