Coronavirus Update: More Than 160 Reported Deaths; 5,000 Cases

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Just 10 days away from the end of Gov. Kay Ivey's stay-at-home order, Alabama's coronavirus case total surpassed 5,000, with more than 160 reported deaths. As well, Mobile County inched closer to Jefferson County for the highest total cases by county.

Ivey's order expires April 30, and many businesses have urged state and local officials to allow them to re-open. Ivey said the stay-at-home order would be revisited shortly before it expires.

Monday was the day health experts believe the virus would reach its peak in Alabama.

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

The counties with the most cases, as of Monday afternoon:

• Jefferson County: 683 confirmed cases; 8,640 total tests; 26 reported deaths
• Mobile County: 673 confirmed cases; 3,662 total tests; 32 reported deaths
• Lee County: 310 confirmed cases; 2,038 total tests; 15 reported deaths
• Shelby County: 271 confirmed cases; 2,171 total tests; 7 reported deaths
• Chambers County: 255 confirmed cases; 748 total tests; 14 reported deaths

One of the major concerns for health care workers when the pandemic began was the supply of personal protective equipment, which remains a concern, even though the surge in novel COVID-19, patients in central Alabama and at UAB Hospital has not been as overwhelming as feared.

One of the biggest supply concerns at UAB and hospitals beyond has been and continues to be N95 respirators, a protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles — critical protection for health care workers treating patients with COVID-19.

"These are unusual times for all health care workers across the nation. We're facing a pandemic, and we don't have the supplies available to care for these patients," said Rachael Lee, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB School of Medicine's Division of Infectious Diseases and the hospital's health care epidemiologist. "Every hospital is looking at ways to safely reprocess their respirators so that we can protect our health care workers and provide the care we need to provide to these patients. What we're doing has the best available evidence with it and research behind it, and I feel confident that what we're doing is the right pathway until we can get a steady stream of N95s coming back into the system."

SEE ALSO:

Birmingham Hotel 'Lights Up For Hope' Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Task Force Recommends Reopening Of Some Alabama Businesses

How To Track Your Coronavirus Stimulus Payment