Tuscaloosa Coronavirus ICU Patients More Than Double In Week

TUSCALOOSA, AL — DCH Health System reported a sharp rise in coronavirus patients requiring critical care in Tuscaloosa, logging 22 total inpatients it its ICU, compared to 10 at this point last week. This now brings ICU inpatient trends in line with a disturbing surge in cases, the likes of which have not been seen since February in terms of hard numbers.

DCH Health System does not publish coronavirus hospitalization data over the weekends at present, but on Monday, officials said a total of 86 coronavirus-positive individuals were receiving inpatient care. The rapid rise in cases is even more troubling when compared to the 11 inpatients being treated on this day two weeks ago.

ALSO READ: 'Largely Avoidable': What To Know About Latest Virus Surge At DCH

Over the week, the hospital reported two inpatient deaths of non-Tuscaloosa County residents, bringing the cumulative death toll to 563 for DCH. Of those, 315 have been Tuscaloosa residents.

Patch has reached out to DCH for comment on the number of new patients admitted by day over the weekend, along with clarity on the percentage of new inpatients who have not been vaccinated. We will provide more on those details as information comes available.

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Conversely, DCH maintains that the vast majority of hospitalizations— over 90% — are of non-vaccinated patients, underscoring the low demand for the widely-available vaccine.

University of Alabama students are also set to return to in-person instruction in Tuscaloosa soon, as local school districts also rock back on their heels, ready to pivot with any changes handed down by state and federal public health officials.

As uncertainty looms in terms of directives from Gov. Kay Ivey, Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Mike Daria said on Monday that, based on the district's early review of the Alabama Department of Public Health toolkit, mask-wearing and vaccinations offer the best chance to keep students in school five days a week.

"We recognize that this is something our community has told us that is important," Daria told parents and the community. "Further, it appears that following the guidance of the toolkit will decrease the number of quarantines students may be required to take."

He went on to say Tuscaloosa City Schools does not anticipate having to move away from in-person learning five days a week.

But, as Patch previously reported last week, DCH Health System is facing a nursing shortage in the face of the surge in cases, due to federal aid money running out for travel nurses. Couple that with DCH reporting that only 53% of hospital staff had finished their vaccine series, and worries become apparent of what could be on the immediate horizon.

In response to the spike in new cases, DCH is keeping its mobile vaccination clinic open on Fridays, in addition to implementing renewed restrictions on visitations.

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