Reported Coronavirus Deaths Close To 200 In Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Mobile County continues to widen the gap between itself and Jefferson County in regard to total coronavirus cases, as the statewide total was listed at nearly 5,500 as of Wednesday afternoon. Mobile County passed Jefferson County Tuesday to become the county with the most total cases.

Mobile County's reported death total (39) and Jefferson County's (31) make more than a third of the state's 194 reported coronavirus deaths.

Alabama saw 271 new cases Tuesday, up from 233 new cases Monday. Gov. Kay Ivey said in her press conference Tuesday that ideally health officials would like to see two weeks of declining cases of the virus before opening up the state's businesses again.

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The counties with the most cases as of Wednesday afternoon:

• Mobile County: 749 confirmed cases; 3,906 total tests; 39 reported deaths
• Jefferson County: 710 confirmed cases; 9,094 total tests; 31 reported deaths
• Lee County: 325 confirmed cases; 2,102 total tests; 19 reported deaths
• Shelby County: 275 confirmed cases; 2,268 total tests; 6 reported deaths
• Chambers County: 266 confirmed cases; 796 total tests; 16 reported deaths

With the weather in Alabama warning up, some optimism abounds that perhaps the warmer weather will help curb the spread of the virus. The Jefferson County Department of Health said they not know if weather and temperature impact the spread of COVID-19, however.

"Some other viruses, like the common cold and flu, spread more during cold weather months but that does not mean it is impossible to become sick with these viruses during other months," said the Jefferson County Department of Health in a statement. "At this time, it is not known whether the spread of COVID-19 will decrease when weather becomes warmer. There is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features associated with COVID-19 and investigations are ongoing."

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