Alabama Cautiously Optimistic About Improving COVID Numbers
by Kim Chandler
Alabama’s state health officer said Friday that he is cautiously optimistic about improving COVID-19 numbers but urged people to maintain precautions such as wearing masks and avoiding crowds.
“This is the most optimistic we’ve been I think maybe since this all began,” Dr. Scott Harris told reporters in his weekly briefing.
Three major barometers of the pandemic’s severity — hospitalizations, daily new cases and the percent of tests coming back positive — have fallen to levels the state last saw in fall or summer. Although, state health officials expressed alarm when the state hit those numbers last year.
“We are not out of the woods, but we see how to get out of the woods. Please don’t stop doing the things that you are doing. This is not the time to ease up wearing your mask. It’s not the time to go be in large groups of people,” Harris said.
Alabama mirrors the national trend on improving case numbers. Medical officials have offered different possible reasons for the decline.
Harris said there may be increased immunity from both vaccinations and temporary natural immunity from people who have been exposed to the virus. The end of the holiday season, and the large gatherings that come with them, likely also plays a part, he said.
The declining numbers come after a lethal surge in cases around the fall and winter holidays. Alabama set a record for deaths in January.
“More than half of all Alabama’s deaths have occurred since Thanksgiving,” Harris said.
Since the pandemic began, more than 480,000 confirmed and probable virus cases have been reported in Alabama, and 9,424 people have died.
Alabama is one of the states that saw shipping delays in vaccine doses because of inclement weather conditions. The Alabama Department of Public Health said approximately 10,000 doses were delayed to 21 facilities throughout the state. The doses are being reshipped. The department said much of the state’s supply comes through Memphis, Tennessee, which saw transportation delays because of the winter storm.
Trump is withdrawing from the Paris Agreement (again), reversing U.S. climate policy
President Trump issued a barrage of orders Monday targeting Biden-era initiatives on global warming. The decisions come on the heels of the hottest year ever recorded.
Ex-Georgia prosecutor on trial for hindering Ahmaud Arbery’s murder investigation
Former district attorney Jackie Johnson is accused of interfering with the police investigation into the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, nearly five years after he was murdered while jogging.
Taliban announce release of two Americans held in Afghanistan in a prisoner exchange
Afghanistan's Taliban government announced on Tuesday the release of two Americans in a prisoner exchange.
Ohio State defeats Notre Dame 34-23 in college football championship game
Ohio State dominated most of the night, and all through the playoffs
Trump orders end of humanitarian parole for migrants of four countries
Under the Biden administration, migrants from embattled countries could apply for entry due for humanitarian reasons, without having to attempt to cross into the U.S. illegally.
Trump rescinds Biden’s census order, clearing a path for reshaping election maps
President Trump revoked a Biden-era executive order that affirmed the longstanding practice of including the total number of persons residing in each state in a census count used for election maps.
