It may not seem that long ago, but tomorrow marks 3 years since the first confirmed case of COVID in Alabama. Since then, life has changed dramatically for everybody.
According to Dr. Paul Burton, Chief Medical Officer of Moderna, the new vaccine offers protection against Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 and other variants of the virus as we head into the fall and winter months.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has created a new quarantine and isolation calculator to give folks an easier way of figuring out when it is beneficial to stay at home.
Masking will remain in effect in patient care areas (including areas specifically designated by UA medical experts) and on public transportation (as mandated by federal law). Those who are sick or symptomatic may test at the Student Health Center or University Medical Center, seek treatment, and stay home when advised.
District Medical Director Dr. Wes Stubblefield with the Alabama Department of Public Health told our news partners at the Times Daily he is hopeful the area will continue to see a decline in COVID -19 positivity rates.
The transition from in-person learning to virtual learning has been tough on schools, parents, and the students. Parents are worried their students aren’t making the grade while schools are trying to navigate safe learning., but the flip flop of learning is taking a toll.
These hospitalizations have steadily increased for more than a month and health officials say the highly contagious Omicron variant is now impacting the hospital staff.
Scottsboro City Schools officials announced Saturday students will remain in the virtual learning platform into the first part of next week due to COVID-19.
The Biden administration previously promised easier access to free, at-home COVID-19 test kits to Americans and starting Wednesday, the White House will begin rolling them out.
UAB's Dr. Michael Saag said your chance of being exposed to COVID in a group of 10 people is more than 70%, and your chances in a crowd of 20 or more is 90 percent.
ADPH data shows that 2,180 people are hospitalized with the virus across the state as of January 14th, 2022. 84 of those patients are children. Dr. David Kimberlin with Children’s of Alabama said those are record numbers for kids.
Several school systems across the Valley are transitioning to virtual learning due to an increase in absences from students and staff as a result of the COVID-19 surge.
Auburn University will require face coverings - regardless of vaccination status - in all campus buildings and transportation services effective January 3.
With only 47 percent of the state fully vaccinated, UAB infectious disease expert, Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo said more people need the shot to protect against the more infectious Omicron strain.
For those traveling this holiday, health officials are urging you to get a COVID-19 test before you hit the road to help limit the spread of the Omicron variant.
For now, a federal COVID-19 vaccine rule will most likely go into effect in the New Year. An appeals court has allowed President Joe Biden’s rule on vaccines and testing in large companies to stand.
