Alabama Coronavirus Patients: Nearly 600 Hospitalized Statewide

BIRMINGHAM, AL — As the growth in the number of coronavirus cases in Alabama starts to slow, hospitals are still seeing additional coronavirus patients coming in for treatment, as the Alabama Department of Public Health reported Friday that nearly 600 people have been hospitalized in Alabama for the virus.

The numbers Friday looked more promising than the number just a week ago, when exponential gains in cases were reported throughout the state. As of Friday afternoon, 4,530 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the state, with 144 reported deaths and 594 hospitalizations.

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Here is how the cases break down demographically in the state, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health:

Coronavirus cases are expected to reach their peak in Alabama by next week. Medical experts have targeted April 20 as the peak date, with cases starting to taper off gradually.

While experts are optimistic about the number of COVID-19 patients decreasing, one UAB physician said some issues still concern her regarding what is to come.

"There are a lot of things keeping me up at night right now, but I think the most common theme for me has been our shortage of PPE, because that's something that we really can't control," UAB's Dr. Sarah Nafziger said. "I can't just go down to the store and buy a whole bunch of PPE right now. In the end, I think that has been the thing that keeps me up the most at night, because not only could that lead to a problem with our patients, but also, you know, I don't want any of our staff to become infected and ill. And to be honest with you, that's the thing that keeps me up the most at night, not only worrying about the lives of our patients, but the lives of our employees."

The slowing of the coronavirus spread has prompted Alabama's Small Business Emergency Task Force to recommend to Gov. Kay Ivey that some of Alabama's businesses reopen. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth said the task force worked with experts and consulted with a number of business owners to find ways to reopen businesses in a safe manner while limiting potential for COVID-19 transmission.

Related Story: Task Force Recommends Re-Opening Of Some Alabama Businesses

Ivey said last week that the plan to reopen businesses would include a gradual opening based on different regions and on different industries.

The counties with the most coronavirus cases as of Friday:

• Jefferson County: 646 confirmed cases; 6,865 total tests; 24 reported deaths
• Mobile County: 621 confirmed cases; 3,172 total tests; 23 reported deaths
• Lee County: 298 confirmed cases; 1,839 total tests; 12 reported deaths
• Shelby County: 245 confirmed cases; 1,776 total tests; 7 reported deaths
• Chambers County: 235 confirmed cases; 692 total tests; 11 reported deaths

Mobile County has inched closer to Jefferson County all week, in regard to number of confirmed cases, with 44 more cases reported Friday. Jefferson County's total cases increased by just 12 Friday.

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