February 18, 2021
After a week of steady decline, COVID cases in Alabama rose today to 1,198 (incl 188 probables), an increase of 76% over yesterday’s total. However, there were 5,085 tests reported, a similar increase of 73.5% over yesterday. As a result, the positivity rate for the day (23.4%) is almost exactly the same as yesterday (23.8%) and the 7-day moving average also remains the same - 20%.
Statewide hospitalizations have seemingly stabilized - 9.46 patients per hospital compared to 9.45 patients per hospital yesterday. However, hospitals must be relieved to see the updated weekly ICU occupancy data. The State’s average ICU occupancy rate has dropped from 90% to 87%, compared to the national average of 75%. For the first time in weeks, Alabama’s ICU’s are not the most crowded in the nation (both Texas and Georgia have higher rates). In Birmingham, the average of 9 hospitals is 88%; in Montgomery, the average of 5 hospitals is 99%; in Huntsville, the average of 2 hospitals is 85%; and in Mobile, the average of 7 hospitals is 95%. Average ICU occupancy in Tuscaloosa is 77%; in Anniston 103%; in Gadsden 89%; in Opelika 100%; in Florence 65%; and in Cullman 106%.
On this, the day on which the United States reported 500,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic (according to worldometers.info), COVID claimed the lives of 78 more fellow Alabamians, 37 of whom died in January and 36 in February. With just 4% of the world’s population, it is truly astonishing that the U.S. has suffered 20% of the world’s nearly 2.5 million COVID deaths.
Last week represented a breakthrough in Alabama’s vaccine distribution procedures. Due to the success of mass vaccination sites in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Anniston, Selma, Dothan and Tuscaloosa, the State administered nearly 150,000 shots, a 31% increase over the prior week. But that increased rate will not be matched this week. In addition to weather-related cancellations, Dr. Scott Harris said the state is not receiving enough doses to keep those clinics running continuously. Still, lessons learned from the effort will be invaluable as vaccine supplies build back up. According to reports, weekly doses to the states have increased 57% since Inauguration Day.
As of today, 685.9K of 924K doses received by the State (74.2%) have been injected into people’s arms. This is a vast improvement from a month ago, when the percentage was in the low-20’s. And, 10.4% of the State’s population has received 1 dose, while 3.5% is fully vaccinated. Both percentages still rank near the bottom of all states but we are within range of the national averages, which stand at 12.7% getting 1 dose, while 4.9% are fully vaccinated.
ADPH reported today that 8 cases of the U.K. variant have been officially identified in Alabama so far - certainly an undercount because few of those cases involved out of state travel. No cases of the South Africa variant have yet been identified in Alabama, which is fortunate because recent studies out of South Africa show the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have diminished efficacy (perhaps by as much as two-thirds) against the dominant variant in that country.
Both companies announced they are taking steps to develop a booster shot or updated vaccine specifically targeting the South Africa variant. The totals:
2/4 - 2767
2/5 - 1496
2/6 - 1992
2/7 - 1112
2/8 - 925
2/9 - 1318
2/10 - 1401
2/11 - 1503
2/12 - 1097
2/13 - 1189
2/16 - 883
2/17 - 679
2/18 - 1198