The final episode of Outbreak Alabama focuses on those in Alabama who lost their lives to COVID. AL.com reporter William Thornton talks about writing COVID obituaries in Alabama, how they evolved as the pandemic evolved and how we should remember those who lost their lives in the pandemic.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

Alabama now reporting more than 100 COVID deaths per day. 2020 was the deadliest year in Alabama history, according to Harris. It was the first year on record where more people died than were born in the state. AL.com data reporter Ramsey Archibald talks about the number of deaths in Alabama, why they remain a lagging indicator for COVID data in our state and why all this could be just the beginning, as the state begins to understand how deadly the delta variant really is.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

AL.com columnist Roy S. Johnson on Governor Kay Ivey's leadership during COVID, why the vaccine is such a partisan issue and why Alabamians need to be saved from themselves.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

Grammy-winning musician Jason Isbell talks about when he decided implementing the COVID restrictions at his shows was the right thing to do, how this stance has affected the relationship with some of his fans, what it's like to finally hit the road and play again and what it will take for Alabama to have a change of heart on getting vaccinated.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

Charles Barkley on why publicly encouraging vaccination is so important to him, why he thinks Alabama has been so stubborn about getting the shot and why sports figures like him can and should make a difference in the fight against COVID.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

AL.com sports columnist Joseph Goodman on why he wants to see proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests required at football games this fall, why football has to take a backseat to slowing the spread and why SEC schools must play a role in it.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

Dr. Jenna Boyd Carpenter of Guntersville talks about why Alabama hospital staffs like hers are exhausted, why she's emotionally drained from treating COVID patients at the end of her day and what it will take for people to finally trust the medical experts and get vaccinated.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

Alabama Education Lab editor Ruth Serven Smith on why some parents are so angry about schools requiring kids to wear masks, what protocols schools will follow to protect children and how vaccination approval for kids might change the course of the school year.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

Rock the South organizer Shane Quick on the stress that comes with planning a festival this size during COVID, what they will do to keep fans safe and how they'll avoid a super-spreader in Cullman.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more

Alabama COVID cases and hospitalizations are skyrocketing.The vaccination rate is the lowest in the U.S. The positivity rate is the highest. AL.com data reporter Ramsey Archibald talks about the slight uptick in vaccinations in Alabama, the rising case counts and why only about half of the state's healthcare workers are fully vaccinated.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information ..read more