Alabama’s Deaths Outpace Births for First Time in History

Sept. 20, 2021 — For the first time in Alabama’s known history, the state’s deaths have outpaced its births — a bleak consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our state literally shrunk in 2020,” Scott Harris, MD, Alabama’s state health officer, said at a news conference. “It hasn’t happened before, nor has it even been close … Read more

Pandemic May Have Created a ‘Baby Bust,’ Not Boom

“The severity of a pandemic, the disparities that continue to exist, as well as shutdown of fertility services and a shutdown of immigration, which is a big contributor to birth rate, are all factors linked to the significant decline in births,” Gupta said. “So, it’s not unexpected. The numbers have been declining in the … Read more