DCH Reports 199 Coronavirus Inpatients Tuesday, Topping High

TUSCALOOSA, AL — DCH Health System logged 29 new coronavirus hospitalizations on Monday, bringing its total number of inpatients to 199 — the most since the beginning of the pandemic. The sustained uptick in new patients comes after the system said on Jan. 9 that it would support "civic measures" on the part of local government officials to help combat the spread of the virus in the community.

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Of the patients currently admitted across the three-hospital system, 38 are receiving treatment in intensive care units, while 17 are on ventilators.

Over the last week, a total of 31 patients testing positive for the virus have died after being admitted to DCH, with one being a Tuscaloosa County resident. The other deaths were patients from DCH's 11-county service area and not from Tuscaloosa.

According to Bamatracker.com, Tuscaloosa has already topped 20,000 coronavirus cases — factoring in confirmed cases and those classified as "probable" — in addition to 267 total deaths.

While no new public health mandates have been implemented by local officials, DCH's previous mention of support for additional measures still stands. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox is also expected to give a coronavirus update Tuesday afternoon that will likely address the latest spike in hospitalizations.

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