With COVID Cases On The Rise, Health Officials Say They’re Seeing Last Year’s Pattern Repeat Itself
Health officials warned Wednesday that Alabama may be headed toward an explosion in the number of COVID-19 cases, similar to the pattern last year when there were thousands of new cases every day.
Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, director of UAB’s Division of Infectious Diseases, said the rise in the number of cases and hospitalizations from the coronavirus reflects a rapid spread of the highly infectious Delta variant and Alabama’s low rate of vaccination.
As the pandemic spread last summer, she said, there was an increase in the number of cases, followed by a rising rate of hospitalizations and then deaths.
“We are starting to see that trend and are very, very concerned, given the situation that we sustained, particularly in Montgomery and Mobile last summer, that we might be there again,” Marrazzo said.
Less than one-third of Alabama’s population has been vaccinated for the coronavirus, Marrazzo said, and the infection rate is rising even though the number of people being tested for COVID-19 has dropped significantly in recent months.
“You look at some states with 70%, nearly 80% vaccine coverage, and you’re not seeing the kinds of trends that we’re talking about in some other states,” she said. “This is not predictive rocket science. This is exactly what we saw before, and in the face of a very low level of full immunization in the state … that is a very feasible scenario that we need to be prepared for.”
The Alabama Department of Public Health reported that 1.53 million people in the state have been fully vaccinated. The state has a population of about 5 million.
Marrazzo said the Delta strain of the coronavirus spreads much more easily than the original virus did, and studies suggest a person can become infected after only five seconds of exposure to someone carrying it.
The good news, she said, is that all three of the vaccines appear to be effective against the Delta strain. There are exceptions, she said, but even in those cases, the vaccines seem to stave off severe cases of the illness and lessen long-term complications.
Cases Increasing in Alabama and Jefferson County
The state has averaged 169 new cases a day over the past week, according to figures released Wednesday by ADPH. The daily average reached a high of 4,418 cases on Jan. 4 but had dropped to 96 new cases per day during the week ending June 23. It rose to 110 on June 25, 160 on June 28 and 188 on July 7.
The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus also is on the rise, from 167 on June 18 to 200 on June 30 and 235 on July 6. The peak was 3,084 on Jan. 11.
There have been 552,911 cases of COVID-19 in Alabama since the pandemic began in March 2020. There have been 11,387 deaths from the disease, including 35 over the past week.
There has been a similar pattern in Jefferson County.
The county Department of Health said the rate of new cases per day more than doubled from 90 the week of June 13 to 190 the week of June 27.
“This increase is likely due to a combination of more contagious variants, including the highly infectious Delta variant, and the low rate of vaccine uptake in Jefferson County,” the department said. It said 35.3% of the county’s population has been fully vaccinated.
With the increased spread of the virus, the Health Department said it ”strongly endorses vaccination for individuals ages 12 and older.”
How President Trump is sparking a crypto revolution in America
Crypto exchange giant Coinbase is set to join the S&P 500 on Monday. It's the latest stunning development as Trump completely revamps the approach to crypto in the U.S.
A pickled pepper maker knows exactly how hard it is to switch to natural food dyes
The MAHA movement loves the idea of getting rid of synthetic dyes in foods. But manufacturers face challenges that could drive prices higher.
Indians still pray at ‘visa temples’ after the U.S. deported migrants in chains
Hindu temples offer prayers for a path to the U.S. But some in India were stunned by the way the U.S. deported Indians despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's friendship with President Trump.
How new at-home HPV test kits could help Alabama fight cervical cancer
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the country’s first at-home HPV screening kit, a disease that causes nearly all cervical cancers. While some hope the new kits might turn things around, others have questions.
Button-sized eggs and teapot cities: A peek into the big, wide world of miniatures
The pandemic helped supercharge a niche craft into a fine arts movement. Now the scene is more detailed and thoughtful than ever before.
Trump DOJ changes to civil rights division spark mass exodus of attorneys
Current and former officials say the current effort amounts to the dismantling of the civil rights division and its traditional mission.
