covid-19

Rep. Terri Sewell Presents 9th Annual and First Virtual Job Fair

From the West Alabama Newsroom– Congresswoman Terri Sewell is hosting her 9th Annual Job Fair this week — in spite of COVID-19. However, this year’s job fair — will be virtual. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way — a lot of things are done. It’s why Congresswoman Terri Sewell’s 9th Annual Job Fair — will also be — her…

New Orleans Cancels All Mardi Gras Parades

FILE – New Orleans (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A New Orleans spokesman says there won’t be any parades on Mardi Gras or in the weeks leading up to it because they can’t fit within crowd restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Spokesman Beau Tidwell said Tuesday there’s just no way to hold traditional parades without violating a 250-person limit…

Moderna Set to Provide a Promising Vaccine Against Covid-19

  Test tube with blood sample for COVID-19 test. Positive test. There’s more promising news on the COVID-19 vaccine front as Moderna says its shot provides strong protection against the coronavirus. Monday’s announcement comes a week after a competitor, Pfizer, revealed its own vaccine to be similarly effective. The announcements come as the virus surges in the U.S. and around…

Poll Workers Contract Covid-19

Poll workers who came in contact with voters on Election Day are reporting they have tested positive for the coronavirus. Public health officials caution that there’s no way to determine yet whether in-person voting on Election Day is to blame as COVID-19 spreads rapidly nationwide. Before the election, officials outfitted polling places with protective gear, sanitizing supplies, and social distancing…

State Education Employees Quarantined Due to COVID-19 Issues

More than 50 Alabama State Department of Education employees are currently in quarantine because of COVID-19 cases and contact tracing. This was confirmed to Alabama News Network by Michael Sibley, Director of Communications with ALSDE. Sibley did not reveal the number of confirmed cases. The quarantined employees work in multiple sections of the department. Many people are working from home…

Troy Football Game with Coastal Carolina Postponed

Troy’s football game scheduled for tomorrow against No. 15 Coastal Carolina at Veterans Memorial Stadium has been postponed due to a combination of positive COVID-19 tests and injuries to a specific position group within the Troy football program. Troy, Coastal Carolina and the Sun Belt Conference are working together on a date to reschedule the game, which will be announced…

Over 20 Tons of Food Given Away to People in Selma

From the West Alabama Newsroom– More than twenty tons of food was given away to over a thousand people in Selma — to help them feed their families. Thirty pound boxes of food were handed out in a drive thru food giveaway Thursday morning — at Bloch Park. The food boxes included fresh fruit — vegetables — meat — milk…

COVID-19 Alters Veteran’s Day Ceremony in Selma

From the West Alabama Newsroom– The threat posed by COVID-19 significantly changed the annual Veteran’s Day ceremony in Selma — but it didn’t stop it. So, even though it looked a little different — the service of our veterans was still recognized — honored — and celebrated in Dallas County. However, the annual ceremony was unlike usual — due to…

Hospitalizations and Deaths from COVID-19 Rise in Alabama

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

(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…