January 12, 2021
One of the most challenging aspects of writing this newsletter is also its most important - putting a human face on the data. Large numbers can become mind-numbing, even dehumanizing, if you’re not careful ... and a global pandemic is filled with large numbers. I never want to succumb to the element of human nature that Stalin counted on, when he observed: “One death is a tragedy; one million is a statistic.”
With that in mind, I must begin with today’s deaths - 226 of them. ADPH released this number with the cautionary note that ADPH is reviewing the records of the Center for Health Statistics, and uncovered 47 previously unreported deaths in July, 44 deaths in October, 82 in December, 13 in January, and 40 more scattered throughout 2020. While these deaths occurred in the past, that fact does not diminish their value. When I examined these deaths by the date of their occurrence, I was struck by the sizable number that took place during the days following Christmas Day - 7 deaths on the 26th, 9 on the 27th, 5 on the 28th and 7 more on the 29th. I couldn’t help but imagine the pain that must have been felt by those families who lost loved ones over the holidays.
The daily case count today is high, but not as high as I was expecting - 3,848 cases (incl. 1,817 probables). There were only 8,156 tests, so the one-day positivity rate was 47.2%. According to Johns Hopkins, the 7-day rate is 43%, while BamaTracker puts it at 36.1%. Hospitalizations, mercifully, were no worse than yesterday - 3,076 in 107 hospitals.
The per capita death rate in Alabama was the 2nd highest in the nation this week, behind only Arizona … and that is before factoring in the record 226 deaths reported today.
The ADPH vaccine dashboard was updated last night, showing that 87,000 doses have now been administered, an increase of 30,000 since this time last week. Even after the update, it’s clear the State’s vaccine distribution program is still inadequate. Only 1,775 doses have been administered per 100,000 population, the lowest per capita distribution rate in the nation. In contrast, West Virginia has administered 3.5 times Alabama’s doses on a per capita basis.
It is absolutely unacceptable that only 1.7% of Alabama’s population has been vaccinated in the 4 weeks since the State received its first shipment of a vaccine 28 days ago. At that rate, it would take over three years to reach 80% herd immunity. Hopefully, the incoming Biden Administration will provide the resources and incentives necessary to produce substantial progress. I have written a column on this subject that will be published in ComebackTown and al.com in coming days. The totals:
12/30 - 5106
12/31 - 4406
1/1 - 4521
1/2 - 3711
1/3 - 2476
1/4 - 2161
1/5 - 5498
1/6 - 4591
1/7 - 5046
1/8 - 5057
1/9 - 4863
1/10 - 2750
1/11 - 2100
1/12 - 3848
Jefferson County led the State with 619 cases, followed by Madison County with 369 cases and Mobile County with 218 cases.