City Optimistic As Coronavirus Cases Trend Down At DCH

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — The number of new local cases and inpatient hospitalizations for the novel coronavirus appear to be once again moving in a positive direction, following a spike in virus cases at the end of the October for DCH Health System and the Tuscaloosa metropolitan area.

According to the hospital system's update on Wednesday, DCH is currently treating 37 inpatients who tested positive for COVID-19, with 13 of those being cared for in intensive care units (ICU). That total is compared to 72 inpatient cases for DCH on Oct. 27, coming at the same time as a statewide and nationwide spike in hospitalizations.

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"Overall, we’re back into a downward trend," Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said to the City Council Tuesday afternoon. "Last week, we were all growing a little bit concerned. I think we got as high as 72 total in the DCH system. [60 inpatient cases] is really the line where you really need to be on a watch for what’s happening."

Maddox then said DCH has gone a week without double-digit figures in new inpatient cases, also underscoring a positive trend.

"The day’s not done obviously, but those are good trend lines for the city," Maddox said.

As of Wednesday, Bamatracker.com — an independent online data source used statewide and by the city of Tuscaloosa — reported 7,817 total cases for Tuscaloosa, with 118 confirmed deaths to-date.

Maddox went on to provide an anecdotal report, saying while the numbers appear to be improving locally, he was at a point where he personally knew so many more people who had tested positive for the virus and had their lives impacted.

Overall, though, he said Tuscaloosa citizens seemed to be maintaining vigilance.

"It felt like in my neighborhood, it was a lost less people trick or treating," Maddox said of the concerns over gatherings for Halloween on Saturday. "At least it felt lower, which seems to indicate that people are taking it a lot more seriously."

Additionally, Maddox provided his usual a report, saying the Tuscaloosa Police Department had issued 25 total mask citations over a Halloween weekend that also featured the University of Alabama's home football game against Mississippi State.

The mayor said the city was pleased with the effort put in by locals and expressed his hope for the city being in a good position once the semester ends at UA with the Thanksgiving holiday. The shortened in-person instruction for the fall semester will see a drastic reduction in the local population as many students leave the area to return home for the holidays.

The University of Alabama System reported 64 new cases confirmed over last week for the campus in Tuscaloosa, down slightly from the 68 new cases identified from Oct. 23-29.

The Tuscaloosa campus had 20 of its 518 isolation rooms in use, according to the last published report on Oct. 30, coming out to just under 4% of the total space available.

Maddox also expressed optimism for the city and county school systems, neither of which have reported major outbreaks or shifts in previously announced plans as different transition strategies have been implemented.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health's K-12 COVID-19 dashboard, the Tuscaloosa County School System has confirmed 52 new COVID-19 cases among students this week, with Tuscaloosa City Schools reporting less than five.

TCS reported on its online tracker Wednesday that it currently has eight active cases among students, with 147 in insolation due to contact.

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