December 10,2020 - Those We've Lost

Those We've Lost

December 10, 2020

If you’re like me, the days are starting to run together. The statistics keep getting worse but the days still feel the same. Then, I begin reading Those We’ve Lost, the NY Times series profiling individuals who have succumbed to COVID-19. The Olympic long jump champion; the indigenous N.H.L. veteran; Afghanistan’s first female general and renowned surgeon; the hospice care consultant; the innocent 14-year old girl whose handcuffing led to an overhaul of Grand Rapids’ law enforcement policies. 

That’s when the terrible cost of this pandemic hits me. Alabama witnessed 49 more deaths today, 4,034 in all. According to one global tracker, the death toll in the United States will surpass 300,000 today, a milestone considered unfathomable back in March. The dead include Lindy McDaniel, an outstanding former relief pitcher for the NY Yankees. And David Andahl, “Dakota Dave” as he was known, who died after winning the GOP nomination for the state House of Representatives. He did not make it to the general election.

Every one of Alabama's 4,034 victims was a son or daughter, a mother or father, a sister or brother. They deserved better.

It was another record-breaking day in our State - 4,735 cases (incl. 1,282 probables) and 11,197 tests. Today’s positivity rate is 42.3% and the 7-day moving average is 33.23%. Another sobering mark was set in hospitalizations - 2,170 patients in 108 reporting hospitals, another increase of 59 patients since yesterday. 

The U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services released its first geographic data on COVID-related hospital patients. A few key findings in Alabama: the ICU occupancy rate in Birmingham hospitals is 90%; in Huntsville, it is 86%; in Mobile, it is 95%; and in Montgomery, it is a whopping 98%. 

In case you wonder what that looks like, consider the case of UAB Hospital. UAB reported it now has 159 COVID patients, an increase of 101% since Thanksgiving, only 2 weeks ago. UAB’s Chief Nursing Officer, Terri Poe, told reporters that patients “are more sick than they’ve ever been”, and the most challenging are patients in ICU, who require more care and do not have family sitting bedside. As for the hospital’s nurses? “We’re tired”, she said. “Here at UAB, a lot of nurses are out with quarantine [and] a lot have COVID.” UAB is helping staff cope with physical and emotional stress, offering classes on how to decompress. Chaplains are there to counsel hospital workers as well as patients. 

When asked what the public can do to help, Ms. Poe said, “I think the greatest thing that the community can do is wear your mask, or when you go out and about, wash your hands, and stay home if you possibly can.” The totals:

11/27 -  917

11/28 - 2119

11/29 - 2236

11/30 - 2295

12/1  -  3376

12/2  -  3928

12/3  -  3531

12/4  -  3840

12/5  -  3390

12/6  - 2288

12/7  -  2335

12/8  -  4436

12/9  -  3522

12/10 - 4735

Jefferson County had a frightening 763 cases today, shattering its previous high mark of 688 cases. Tuscaloosa County had 260 cases, followed by Madison (231); Mobile (224); and Shelby (207).