11 Reported Coronavirus Deaths In Jefferson County; 53 Statewide

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The Alabama Department of Public Health has reported 11 deaths from COVID-19 in Jefferson County, with 53 reported deaths statewide. Jefferson County continues to lead the state in coronavirus cases and total fatalities.

Of the 10 deaths in Jefferson County reported by the ADPH, 5 of those have been confirmed as deaths from the illness, while the other 5 are deaths of people who tested positive for the virus, hence the different classifications.

Jefferson County had 439 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Monday night, out of more than 2,000 cases statewide. UAB Hospital reported it is caring for 59 inpatients with confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Monday morning, down from 62 on Friday.

Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in Alabama. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

Experts from the UAB have created a symptom checker to identify hot spots where the virus is spreading. The new website, HelpBeatCOVID19.org, provides public health officials insight into underserved areas based on the symptomatic data collected from the region and could help inform and enhance public health observation.

"We are taking a look at COVID-19 symptoms alongside underlying medical conditions to provide public health officials an in-depth analysis of how rural areas are affected in real time," said Sue Feldman, Ph.D., associate professor in the UAB School of Health Professions and UAB School of Medicine. "The website asks people about their symptoms to produce an interactive map showing how areas are effected and hot spots that are showing a rise in symptoms. We hope to learn more about how coronavirus is spreading in rural communities who have health disparities so we can help fight the spread of the disease."

Five counties make up nearly half of the cases in the state:

• Jefferson County: 438
• Shelby County: 150
• Mobile County: 148
• Madison County: 141
• Lee County: 118

While higher population can attest for more cases and more fatalities, that is not necessarily the case statewide. In Chambers County, with a population of just over 33,000, 7 deaths have been reported out of 94 confirmed cases. Compared to Jefferson County's population of more than 600,000, the ratio for rural Chambers County is cause for alarm, according to a report by the Montgomery Advertiser last week.

SEE ALSO:

Gov. Kay Ivey Issues Statewide Stay-At-Home Order

Coronavirus Sparks Surge In Unemployment Claims

Local Restaurant Partners With YMCA To Feed First Responders' Children

Coronavirus: States Were Sent Expired Masks, Broken Ventilators