Labor Day Virus Bump Puts Less Strain On DCH Than Fourth of July

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — The number of COVID-19 cases across DCH Health System has seen a slight, yet steady climb over the last two weeks, but is still well-below surge levels compared to past spikes, according to the hospital system's update on Thursday.

The three-hospital system reported 53 total coronavirus inpatient cases, compared to 40 inpatient cases two weeks ago on Sept. 10. The number of virus patients being treated in the system's intensive care units (ICUs), has also climbed over this time from 13 patients to 17 as of Thursday.

Inpatient cases for DCH are at their highest since the system confirmed 53 total inpatient cases on Sept. 2. But while new inpatient cases have seen an uptick following the Labor Day holiday weekend and the start of the fall semester for both grade schools and colleges, the 53 inpatient cases in the weeks that followed is still a far cry from July, when a post-holiday surge saw inpatient totals for the system top triple digits.

"In the last few weeks we have had some ups and downs in the volumes of COVID-19 positive inpatients but for the most part have remained fairly steady," DCH Vice President of Marketing and Communication Andy North told Patch Friday morning.

One positive sign also came in the number of patients on ventilators, which was relatively unchanged over the last two weeks. As of Thursday, five or fewer patients are on ventilators and 10 are currently on a bilevel positive airway pressure machine (BiPAP).

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To date, DCH has logged a cumulative total of 3,222 unique positives identified from COVID-19 tests, including results from the system's emergency department, triage tent and inpatients. Additionally, 943 total inpatients who were positive for COVID-19 had been discharged as of Thursday.

The hospital system also reported a total of 187 inpatients testing positive for the virus have died at DCH since the onset of the pandemic. As the hospital notes, this figure is not an indication of the cause of death, rather that the individuals were positive for the coronavirus when they died.

The cumulative number of patients who have died at DCH rose by 17 over the last two weeks, according to data published by the hospital system.

As of Thursday, a total of 107 Tuscaloosa County residents tested positive for COVID-19 at the time of their deaths, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health, marking an increase of 12 over the last two weeks. The state health department also reported Tuscaloosa County confirming 67 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing its cumulative total to 6,092.

Totals provided by ADPH do not necessarily include students at the University of Alabama's Tuscaloosa campus who have tested positive for the virus, but positive signs have been seen locally with respect to the increased spread brought by the return of in-person instruction.

Patch reported last week when the the University of Alabama System confirmed 119 new cases among students on UA's Tuscaloosa campus from Sept. 11 - 17, which represents the lowest number of new cases identified over a one-week testing period since classes began. To date, the UA System has confirmed 2,461 total cases on the Tuscaloosa campus since the onset of the pandemic.

The UA System Dashboard will be updated Friday with new student numbers.