Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) News & Resources

Public Health | Unemployment Resources | Business Resources | Child Assistance | Volunteer / Donate Blood | Stay Informed

“Alabamians – and Americans – have faced many challenges before and the ‘American Spirit’ and the ‘Alabama Resolve’ has helped us get through those times. Together, I am confident, we will get through this as well.” Gov. Kay Ivey

The Governor’s Office is committed to keeping the citizens of Alabama informed on efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 during this pandemic. This webpage is a compilation of resources provided in collaboration with our local, state and federal partners. Due to the rapidly evolving nature of this pandemic, please check back frequently for updates. You are also encouraged to follow the governor’s social media accounts for the latest news: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, & YouTube.

Since launching this webpage, Governor Ivey has worked with various partners to develop two critical COVID-19 sites for Alabamians to get all of their COVID-19 answers. Please visit altogetheralabama.org or covid19.alabama.gov today!

Public Health Information

COVID-19, caused by exposure to the novel coronavirus, is a serious respiratory illness that can be spread from person to person. To take direct action against this critical public health emergency, Governor Ivey has formed a high-level task force to coordinate a response. On March 13, 2020, on recommendation from the State Health Officer, Gov. Ivey declared a state public health emergency exists in the state of Alabama and has since issued ten supplemental state of emergency proclamations.

View the current Safer at Home order (issued May 21, 2020).

GKI-0040-2020 Health Order Update May 22-DFT4-Vertical Info Sheet FINAL Download

GKI-0040-2020 Health Order Update May 22-DFT4-Horizontal Info Sheet (002) Download

Governor Ivey urges all Alabamians to stay vigilant and to take precautions to avoid exposure.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

Learn more about COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For general COVID-19 questions, call 1-800-270-7268 or email the Alabama Department of Public Health at [email protected]. Telephone calls are answered from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

For COVID-19 testing sites and hours of operation, call the Alabama Department of Public Health’s 24-hour hotline at 1-888-264-2256.

The ADPH posts updated case numbers daily here and has a page dedicated to Frequently Asked Questions.

Those who suspect they have COVID-19, those waiting on test results, and those with COVID-19, should visit COVID-19 Resources for Patients.

Veterans wanting to learn more about their health care benefits during this health emergency should review this U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs document.

Unemployment Resources

The Alabama Department of Labor has announced that Alabama workers who are not able to work due to COVID-19 are eligible to file for unemployment benefits.

Workers can file for benefits online or by calling 1-866-234-5382. (Online filing is encouraged.)

Get more information on the Alabama Department of Labor’s COVID-19 web page.

If you have lost your job, click here to view health insurance options.

Business Resources

Alabama small businesses impacted by COVID-19 can seek a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Business owners can apply for a SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan here.

Small business owners can also visit Atlas Alabama, a one-stop resource, for federal, state and local assistance.

Governor Ivey and the Alabama Department of Revenue have extended the state income tax filing due date from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties or interest. Read the announcement.

Get additional information on the Alabama Department of Revenue’s COVID-19 web page.

The Alabama Department on Commerce is offering an online guide to COVID-19 Resources for businesses and workers.

Read the AlabamaWorks! Handout on the Rapid Response Team’s assistance for dislocated workers.

Child Assistance

Break for a Plate ensures all Alabama children can continue to receive nutritious meals while schools across the state are temporarily closed. Break for a Plate offers two free meals each day to kids and teens up to 18 years of age. Get Break for a Plate information here.

The Alabama State Department of Education has created two email addresses to assist parents and employees with questions.

If you are a parent and have a COVID-19 related question, email [email protected].

If you are a school employee and have a COVID-19 related question, email [email protected].

The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education Born Ready initiative has launched a website to assist parents and caregivers with resources and brain-boosting activities to help their children while at home.

The Alabama Department of Archives has created a website called Alabama [email protected]. The site provides links to free, online content hosted by partners throughout Alabama. Parents will be especially interested in the many activities for children, but learners of all ages will benefit.

Volunteer / Donate Blood

If you would like to volunteer during this COVID19 outbreak, please visit the Governor’s Office of Volunteer Services website.

Alabama Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (ALVOAD) has issued a list of volunteer guidelines here.

The Governor’s Office of Volunteer Services has also launched the Alabama ReadyOp program. This is a partnership between The Governor’s Office of Volunteer Services and the Alabama Department of Public Health that integrates local, regional, and statewide volunteer resources to assist our public health and healthcare systems in planning and communication. This is the State of Alabama’s online system for managing public health and medical disaster volunteer responders. This system supports personnel who may be utilized during disasters, all-hazard response efforts, and public health activities. Sign up here.

Donated blood has decreased dramatically. Healthy, eligible donors are urged to come out and give to ensure there’s lifesaving blood on the shelves for those who need it most. Visit American Red Cross or LifeSouth to learn more and where to donate.

Plasma centers are also experiencing a decrease in donations. Click here to find a plasma center location near you.

Stay Informed

In these challenging times, you need accurate information to make informed decisions. Get your information from trusted sources and don’t believe rumors.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for national COVID-19 updates.

View the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Coronavirus Rumor Control web page.

The World Health Organization has created a myth-busting web page to dispel some false impressions about COVID-19.

If you would like to report Coronavirus fraud, visit the Department of Justice website.

Stay up to date with news from Governor Ivey.

Additional Resources From Alabama State Agencies

• Alabama Department of Economic Affairs
• Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs
• Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
• Alabama Medicaid Agency
• Governor’s Office on Disability
• Alabama Department of Senior Services
• Alabama Department of Mental Health
• Alabama Department of Revenue
• Alabama Department of Human Resources
• Alabama Department of Insurance 

Last updated May 22, 2020 at 5: 29 p.m.