COVID-19, impact on businesses discussed at town hall

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The fight against COVID-19 is not over, said Wesley Willeford, medical director of disease control at the Jefferson County Department of Health.

“We still have a lot of work to do with COVID-19,” Willeford said. “The battle isn’t won.”

Willeford was one of the presenters at a Virtual Town Hall held May 12 by the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce and the city of Vestavia Hills.

While businesses around the state are beginning to open up with some restrictions in place, a sign of hopefully positive growth, Willeford said there is still a need for everyone to stay safe and do their part to combat the virus.

Thankfully, he said, more testing is available now than there was a month ago, and a new test will not be quite as invasive, not going as deep into the nasal cavity. Antibody tests are also available at some locations.

In Alabama, Willeford said there have been 10,164 cases with 403 deaths. In Jefferson County, there have been 1,131 cases and 61 deaths, he said.

Willeford said the county is taking time to reach out to residents who test positive for the virus and asking them to isolate for 14 days and to notify those with whom they have had contact.

Combating the disease will require everyone to work together, he said.

Karen Odle, executive director of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, said there are three testing sites in Vestavia Hills, two of which are offering or will soon offer the antibody test, which is a blood test that tests individuals for antibodies to the virus, which indicates previous exposure and built-up immunity.

Those sites include Your Kids Urgent Care and Urgent Care for Children, which both test all ages, not just children. Your Kids Urgent Care will soon have the antibody test. Any Lab Test Now is offering the antibody test by appointment.

Odle addressed the issue of scam callers trying to take advantage of the situation, particularly with businesses. She gave those joining the call some tips:

  • Don’t respond to texts, emails or calls about checks from the government.
  • Ignore online offers for vaccinations and be wary of ads for test kits.
  • Hang up on robocalls.
  • Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control or the World Health Organization.
  • Do your homework when it comes to donations.
  • Watch out for emails with links embedded or attached.
  • Watch out for phishing or smishing [similar to phishing but through text message] attacks.
  • Be suspicious.

Clabe Dobbs with Progress Bank said there is still money available from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, and businesses should contact their local banker for more information on how to apply.

Vestavia Hills City Manager Jeff Downes gave an update on city finances and said the first six months of fiscal year 2020 were the “best six months in the history of Vestavia Hills,” and that it is likely the city will not have to dip into its reserves fund.

The city has almost doubled last year’s number of new residential permits, and, seven months into the fiscal year, has registered the third-highest number since 2007.

Downes said the city is also starting to see sales tax revenues coming from outside the area, namely in online purchases made in city limits.

Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry gave an update on public and private projects, including the expected opening of a Publix in Liberty Park in June and the new Publix in Rocky Ridge in November. Cahaba Heights Station and the old Todd Mall development are also underway, he said.

A video of the meeting can be found on the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.