Birmingham Hospital Leaders: COVID Surge ‘Heartbreaking … And Largely Preventable’
Birmingham’s hospital leaders are raising the alarm about the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
“We’re feeling the surge and it’s real,” said Dr. Tim Bode, chief medical officer with Ascension St. Vincent’s Hospital.
Bode joined executives from seven local hospitals at a press conference Wednesday. He said St. Vincents is treating close to 100 patients for COVID-19, up 700% in the past three weeks.
Officials with Grandview Medical Center said they have seen a 500% increase in COVID patient volume during the past month.
Numbers reflect an “unprecedented” surge in hospitalizations statewide, which topped more than 1,700 Wednesday afternoon, a 750% increase since early July.
Alabama Department of Public Health
Graph shows statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations since March, 2020.
“The slope of the line, the ramp up of the infections, has just been incredible as compared to last time,” said Dr. Elizabeth Ennis, chief medical officer with Brookwood Baptist Health.
Ennis said Brookwood is diverting resources and space to treat the influx of COVID patients. She said hospitals are already short staffed, with medical providers tired and stressed.
Hospital leaders urged residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19. They said most people hospitalized with the virus are unvaccinated and many are under the age of 60.
“This is absolutely heartbreaking what we’re seeing,” said Dr. Jeremy Rogers, director of clinical services at Grandview Medical Center. “It’s tragic. And unfortunately, it’s largely preventable.”
Celebrating 100 years of speech arts in Birmingham
Women in flowing dresses and glittering cardigans filled the Virginia Samford Theater in Birmingham on a recent afternoon. The event was a celebration for the one hundredth anniversary of the Speech Arts Club of Birmingham.
Wrong turn leads to hundreds of immigrant arrests at the Detroit-Canada border bridge
NPR has for months been receiving tips about detentions at the Ambassador Bridge in Michigan. An inquiry by Michigan Democrat Rep. Rashida Tlaib has revealed more that 200 detentions this year at the bridge, including American citizen children.
A judge orders changes to a $2.8B NCAA deal, which attorneys say could trigger chaos
The judge overseeing the rewriting of college sports rules threw a potentially deal-wrecking roadblock into the mix Wednesday, insisting parties in the $2.8 billion suit redo the part of the proposed deal.
Lawyers warn clients of increased arrest risk at immigration check-ins
Immigration attorneys are advising clients who have deportation orders when they show up at court dates and immigration appointments, there is an increased risk of getting detained.
This terrifying horror novel proves: Nothing is old if you make it new
Nat Cassidy's wildly entertaining novel is a superb example of how to work with clichés. When the Wolf Comes Home might sound like a werewolf novel — but it's an entirely different animal.
Joy Harjo believes in second chances
Joy Harjo is one of the most revered poets in the United States. On this week's Wild Card with Rachel Martin, the former U.S. poet laureate talks about how writing can give you second chances.
