Tuscaloosa Sees Sharp Uptick In COVID-19 Hospitalizations

TUSCALOOSA, AL — DCH Health System reported 11 new COVID-19 hospitalizations from Sunday to Monday, bringing the Tuscaloosa-based healthcare provider's overall number to its highest point since Oct. 19, 2021.

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According to its update published on Monday, DCH was caring for 47 inpatients who had tested positive for the coronavirus. Of those patients, 32 — or 68% — are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated. Additionally, all nine patients receiving care in the hospital's intensive care unit are not fully vaccinated.

The sharp uptick saw the number of patients increase from 32 patients on Sunday.

To date, 780 inpatients have died at DCH after testing positive for the coronavirus. According to state data for Tuscaloosa County, ADPH reports 38,349 confirmed cases since the onset of the pandemic, with 655 deaths.

Statewide and local public health officials continue to stress that receiving the widely-available vaccine is the most effective way to combat the virus. At present, 212,743 total doses have been administered in Tuscaloosa County, with 87,907 residents completing their vaccination series and 23,246 more receiving their boosters.

The Alabama Department of Public Health reports that Alabama is nearing 1 million total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with the most recent numbers showing a cumulative total of 913,603. However, over the last seven days, 97,680 cases have been added to that total, as concerns persist over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Statewide, 16,455 deaths have been connected to the virus, with nearly 10,000 in 2021.

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