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.”
Rubio says U.S. will ‘aggressively’ revoke visas for many Chinese students
The announcement to revoke visas is the most drastic move yet to curtail the numbers of international students studying in the U.S.
Trump administration cancels plans to develop a bird flu vaccine
The Department of Health and Human Services is ending a $766 million contract with the vaccine company Modern to develop an mRNA vaccine for flu strains with pandemic potential, including bird flu.
Federal trade court blocks Trump from imposing tariffs under emergency powers law
The ruling from a three-judge panel at the New York-based Court of International Trade came after several lawsuits arguing that Trump has exceeded his authority.
Judge says Rubio “likely” violated Constitution in ordering Mahmoud Khalil deported
But in a mixed ruling, Federal Judge Michael Farbiarz declined, for now, to order Khalil released from immigration detention.
Tate brothers face rape and trafficking charges in U.K.
British prosecutors have approved 21 charges against self styled misogynist influencers, brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, including rape, assault, and human trafficking.
Shooting outside Jewish museum raises questions about shifts in political violence
If the suspect in the recent D.C. case planned to kill people because of their Jewish faith, this would represent a major anomaly in lethal, antisemitic violence.
