Jefferson, Montgomery Counties Still Lead In New COVID-19 Cases

MONTGOMERY, AL — As Alabama tops 30,000 total COVID-19 cases, two counties continue to outpace the rest of the state in new cases of the virus. Of nearly 9,000 new cases confirmed statewide in the last 14 days, close to 2,000 of those have been reported in Jefferson and Montgomery counties.

Alabama and much of the Deep South are seeing a spike in coronavirus cases as some have stopped heeding warnings of the virus, alarming public health officials and people who have lost loved ones because of COVID-19. Over the past two weeks, Alabama had the second highest number of new cases per capita in the nation

Thus far, Alabama has reported 30,031 COVID-19 cases and confirmed 831 deaths from the virus. In the last two weeks, 8,986 new cases have been confirmed.

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"We are extremely concerned about these numbers. We know if they continue, we will see more hospitalizations and more deaths," Alabama State Health Officer Scott Harris said.

In May, Alabama allowed businesses and restaurants to open. Harris said he thinks people, who were understandably craving a return to normal life, did not take enough precautions. He said the large upswing in cases comes a few weeks after Memorial Day gatherings and that mask-wearing continues to seem hit or miss.

"We still get communication from the public every day from people who think we created some hoax for some nefarious purpose," Harris said.

In the last two weeks, 94,333 COVID-19 tests have been administered statewide, with 14,094 in Jefferson County and 5,868 in Montgomery County.

The counties with the most new cases confirmed in the last 14 days:

• Montgomery County: 1,037 new cases; 3,254 total
• Jefferson County: 896 new cases; 3,025 total
• Tuscaloosa County: 629 new cases; 1,604 total
• Mobile County: 528 new cases; 3,104 total

SEE ALSO:

• Rise In Coronavirus Cases Brings New Concerns In Alabama
• Jefferson County Releases COVID-19 Stats By ZIP Code
• Galleria Recovering From COVID-19 Shutdown