February 9, 2021 - Popping Daffodils Bring Hope

Popping Daffodils Bring Hope

Feb 09, 2021

February 9, 2021

It’s the start of a new data week and things are definitely looking up in Alabama. The temperatures are rising, the daffodils are popping and the COVID data is unquestionably improving. There were 1,318 cases (incl. 463 probables), the fewest for a weekday since Election Day in November. True, there were only 5,959 tests (22% one-day positivity rate). Also true, testing is now taking a backseat to vaccinations. Nevertheless, it is stunning how quickly the daily new cases and hospitalizations seem to be declining.

Speaking of hospitalizations, there are now 1,441 patients in 105 reporting hospitals, or 13.7 patients per hospital. That’s the lowest level since Thanksgiving. HHS’s updated ICU occupancy data have also improved around the State - 90% on average, compared with 95% last week - although Alabama’s rate remains the highest in the nation.

In the Birmingham area, ICU’s are 88% occupied, led by St. Vincent’s (94%), UAB Hospital (91%) and Grandview (85%). In Montgomery, the Baptist Hospitals are still 100% occupied and Jackson Hospital is 98%. In the Mobile area, Thomas Hospital (Fairhope)’s ICU is 101% occupied and Mobile Infirmary 96%, while Huntsville Hospital is 95%. The regional hospitals around the State include Dothan (112%); Anniston (100%); Gadsden (97%); Opelika (100%); and Cullman (161%).

There were 56 more deaths reported today, which is a high number based on pre-Election Day standards, but not when you consider there were only 2 deaths reported for the prior 2 days combined. According to the Washington Post, Alabama has suffered 14.1 deaths per 100K population for the last 7 days, 2nd in the nation to Indiana and just ahead of Arizona (13.3), Kansas (13.3), Tennessee (12.2) and Delaware (11.3).

On the vaccine front, Alabama has now administered 497.7K of its 862.5K doses (57.7%). In each of the last 3 weeks (ending February 6), the State has given between 105K and 110K shots, roughly 25,000-30,000 more doses than it has received each week. It’s good that more vaccines are getting moved from freezers into peoples’ arms because they are not doing any good in storage. Approximately 7.9% of the State’s population has now received one dose and 1.9% has received both doses. We are still last in the nation in both metrics, according to the CDC. The national average: 10% has received 1 dose and 3% has received both doses.

The Alabama Legislature began its annual Regular Session last Tuesday. That is never good news and this year is no exception. Two bills were introduced that could slow down vaccinations, including (i) H.B. 214 by Rep. Chip Brown (R-Mobile) which would prohibit an employer from requiring vaccines for its employees or prospective employees, and (ii) H.B. 278 by Rep. Ritchie Whorton (R-Scottsboro), titled the "My Body, My Choice Vaccination Act", which would prohibit an employer from taking adverse employment action against an employee if a doctor determined that vaccination could be detrimental to the employee's health or the employee holds religious or personal beliefs contrary to vaccination.

Alabama has a high percentage of residents who are reluctant to take the vaccine. When so much depends on achieving herd immunity through vaccination, you can generally count on the Alabama Legislature to do the wrong thing. Please let me know if you hear of any organized support (or opposition) for these bills. The totals:

1/26 - 2900

1/27 - 3177

1/28 - 3648

1/29 - 2848

1/31 - 4057

2/2 - 2078

2/3 - 2118

2/4 - 2767

2/5 - 1496

2/6 - 1992

2/7 - 1112

2/8 - 925