Jefferson County Passes 500 Coronavirus Deaths

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Jefferson County confirmed 462 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, and two fatalities, bringing the county's death total from the virus to 501. Total, Jefferson County has reported 33,526 cases of the virus since the pandemic began in March.

Jefferson County is averaging 355 new COVID-19 cases per day over the last week. The state is averaging 2,290 new cases per day, the highest daily average ever. The Alabama Department of Public Health reports that Alabama's positive test rate sits at 33 percent, the highest the state has seen since July.

One of the most pressing issues the rise in new cases poses is the overcrowding of Alabama's hospitals. The ADPH reported Monday that the state’s hospitals were treating 1,785 coronavirus patients Tuesday, a record for virus patients in Alabama. The previous record of 1,613 was set Aug. 6.

Jefferson County health director Dr. Mark Wilson said jefferson County's hospitals are also breaking records for COVID-19 patints. Wilson posted on Twitter Tuesday, "Hospitals in Jefferson County, AL now have more COVID-19 inpatients than at any other time in the pandemic."

UAB Hospital treated 125 COVID-19 inpatients Monday, a new record high and an increase of 46 patients since Thanksgiving Day.

"I have never seen anything that threatens the health system as much as the next six to eight weeks," Donald Williamson, president of the Alabama Hospital Association said in a statement Monday. "By mid-December, we will see the full effect of Thanksgiving, only to have Christmas and New Year’s set us up for the disaster of January."

SEE ALSO:

• Coronavirus In November: Alabama Adds More than 57K New Cases
• Hoover Schools Return To Staggered Schedule Amid Coronavirus Surge
• Coronavirus: AL State Health Officials 'Worried' About Holidays