Concern Over Increased Coronavirus Hospitalizations In Alabama

MONTGOMERY, AL — When September ended, the outlook by Alabama health officials in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic was mostly positive, as the state had seen a decrease in new cases and hospitals were less crowded. That has changed in October.

Since the last week of September, when the Alabama Department of Public Health reported 703 COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state, the number of patients hospitalized has increased by 160, with the state reporting 863 COVID-19 hospitalizations Thursday.

"I don’t think there’s any reason to think we’re somehow going to be spared from what looks like it’s going to be a second wave," said Dr. Don Williamson, executive director of the Alabama Hospital Association in an interview with WSFA-12. "I think the question is just how bad our second wave is going to be."

The state is averaging 1,120 new cases of COVID-19 per day over the last two weeks, a number that continues to rise above averages seen in September, which had dipped below 900 new cases per day.

The Jefferson County Department of Health reported Thursday that 211 new cases of the virus had been confirmed overnight in the Jefferson County area, which also includes Bibb, Blount, Cullman, Shelby, St. Clair, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties.

New cases per day in the Jefferson County area over the last week:

• Oct. 15: 214 new cases
• Oct. 16: 191 new cases
• Oct. 17: 211 new cases
• Oct. 18: 224 new cases
• Oct. 19: 236 new cases
• Oct. 20: 211 new cases
• Oct. 21: 211 new cases

The ADPH reported Thursday that Alabama's rate of positive COVID-29 tests sits at 8.1 percent, and increase from 7.1 percent at the end of September.

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