Coronavirus

Hospitalizations and Deaths from COVID-19 Rise in Alabama

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by WAKA Action 8 News

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – The number of people in Alabama hospitals with COVID-19 is creeping upward as health officials expressed concern about the trajectory of the pandemic headed into the flu and holiday season. State Health Officer Scott Harris said Tuesday that state numbers are clearly moving upward. Alabama Department of Public Health statistics showed 1,206 people were hospitalized Tuesday…

U.S. Allowing First Emergency Use of COVID-19 Antibody Drug

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(Courtesy of Eli Lilly via AP) U.S. health officials have allowed emergency use of the first antibody drug to help the immune system fight COVID-19. The Food and Drug Administration has cleared the experimental drug from Eli Lilly for people 12 and older with mild or moderate COVID-19 not requiring hospitalization. Tests of it are continuing, but the drug does…

What Does Pfizer’s Vaccine Announcement Mean for Alabama?

The company announced Monday that their vaccine is 90% effective in preventing coronavirus transmission.
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On Monday, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced that their vaccine was 90% effective in preventing coronavirus transmission. To view the original article on the Pfizer vaccine, CLICK HERE. Alabama officials say the vaccine will be free because the federal government has pledged to buy $2 billon dollars worth of vaccine from Pfizer. Pfizer is awaiting authorization from the FDA, which can come…

Auburn at Mississippi State Postponed Due to Coronavirus

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The Southeastern Conference has announced that the Auburn at Mississippi State football game on November 14 has been postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests and subsequent quarantining of individuals within the Mississippi State football program. The SEC says this is consistent with Southeastern Conference COVID-19 management requirements. The game has been tentatively rescheduled for Dec. 12. Categories: Coronavirus, Montgomery Metro,…

President-elect Joe Biden Implores Americans to Wear a Mask

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President-elect Joe Biden speaks at The Queen theater, Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President-elect Joe Biden is imploring Americans to wear masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus – even as he cheered news about the promising development of a vaccine being developed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Biden, in televised remarks this morning after…

Pfizer Says Its COVID-19 Vaccine May Be 90% Effective

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Pfizer says an early peek at its vaccine data suggests the shots may be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19. Monday’s announcement doesn’t mean a vaccine is imminent. The interim analysis, from independent data monitors, looked at 94 infections recorded so far in a study that has enrolled nearly 44,000 people. Pfizer did not provide any more details about those cases,…

COVID-19 Hospitalizations in Alabama Over 1,000 for First Time Since August

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More people are hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19 in Alabama than any time since August as the coronavirus pandemic worsens across the state. Statistics from the Alabama Department of Public Health showed that 1,001 people were hospitalized with the illness Monday. That marked the first time since Aug. 31 that hospitalizations statewide passed the triple digits. While worsening, the total…

Thousands Vote Absentee in Dallas Co. Amid COVID-19

George McDonald,
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by George McDonald

From the West Alabama Newsroom– Election day is just about a week away — but thousands of people in Dallas County — have already cast their votes. “I came up here to vote because I don’t, I’m not able to go to the polls and vote and stuff. I can’t stand long.” Corine Ingram of Minter is one of more…

Alabama Judge Apologizes for Calling Governor Ivey “MeMaw” in Court Order

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A Mobile County judge has apologized for calling the state’s female governor “MeMaw” in a court order he issued earlier this year to cancel a hearing due to Alabama’s stay-at-home order. Acoording to reports, Mobile County Circuit Court Judge James Patterson made the comment in an April order he sent to parties involved in a civil negligence case. Patterson wrote…

MPS Releases Weekly COVID-19 Numbers

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Montgomery Public Schools is now releasing data showing the number of new positive COVID-19 cases in each school. The total number for each school include both employees and students who notified MPS that they tested positive for the virus. The system says the data is reported by the schools at the end of each school days and is provided to…