Health Official Warns About The Danger Of Being In Crowds As High School Football Fully Kicks Off
Dr. David Hicks, deputy health officer of Jefferson County.
Dr. David Hicks didn’t say fans of high school football should steer clear of Friday night lights when he spoke at Birmingham City Hall this morning.
But the deputy health officer of Jefferson County said high school football games — which kick off fully this week — and similarly populated events have an obvious risk of spreading COVID-19, especially the Delta variant.
“Any outdoor event where you’re having the people congregating, packed in together, is certainly high risk for spreading,” Hicks said during a press conference with Birmingham City Council President William Parker. “We are not suggesting that people don’t enjoy outdoor activities, but we know you have to assume the risk. If you are a high-risk person, you have an immune-compromised situation [or] you’re older age, I would not suggest going out into any outdoor crowded events at all.”
Hicks said persons who choose to attend such outdoor events should try to social distance as much as possible.
“You do the best you can do,” he said, “but it certainly is increased risk when you go to those situations.”
Hicks was asked about the possibility of health officials again shutting down society as was done in 2020. He said it’s hard to compare last year to this year because there were more requirements of decreased capacity in certain facilities. There also were no vaccines last year, and there was no Delta variant.
“It’s a different mix. I think when you see a dramatic community spread and increased hospitalizations [and] kids on ventilators, at some point, I think we all have to figure out when is enough, enough,” he said. “Our health care providers — our nurses, our doctors that are taking care of people on the front lines — are saying we need help, community. We need relief. We’ve asked for it. We don’t know what else to do.
“At some point, someone’s going to have to make the call on what else needs to be done,” the deputy health officer said. “I think a reasonable approach is at least all of our businesses, if you’re indoors, make sure that everyone is masking in your establishment.”
Hicks said health care officials were “setting off alarms” because of an increased spread of COVID. Jefferson County is averaging 425 new cases a day, compared to an average of 13 six to eight weeks ago, he said. Thirty-eight percent of residents in the county are fully vaccinated, and 49% have had at least one dose of the two-dose vaccine.
Hicks strongly recommended that people wear masks when they are indoors even if they have been fully vaccinated.
The Jefferson County Health Department is administering vaccines at all three of its locations from 8:20 a.m. to 4 p.m., in addition to the many drugstores and health care providers that are giving the free vaccines.
Almost 200,000 Palestinians displaced by latest Israeli military offensive
Israel has ordered tens of thousand of Gazans to move to zone in the south
Susan Brownmiller, whose landmark book changed attitudes on rape, dies at 90
In 1975, Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape explored pernicious cultural and legal attitudes about rape and helped debunk the long-held view that victims were partly to blame.
A video of the French president’s wife shoving him went viral. Here’s why it matters
Macron said that the video depicts the couple "joking" and dismissed it as part of a disinformation campaign. Experts say Russian accounts are trying to undermine his image as a strong advocate for the West.
US Sen. Tommy Tuberville announces 2026 bid for Alabama governor
His announcement on the Will Cain Show on Fox News followed weeks of speculation, and associates saying Tuberville planned to enter the race. The former coach is expected to be a formidable entry in the governor’s race.
55-year-old Kami Rita Sherpa breaks his own record: climbing Mount Everest 31 times
Lumping his 31 feats together, Kami Rita Sherpa has climbed nearly 90,000 feet above sea level on the famous peak. He first climbed to the top of the world's highest mountain in 1994.
Elon Musk’s Starship rocket will try to launch again tonight
After two spectacular failures, SpaceX is hoping this test flight will go more smoothly for the behemoth rocket.
