January 7, 2021
As all eyes (including mine) were fixed on the domestic terrorists who invaded and defiled our seat of government, few people were aware that yesterday was also the deadliest day of the pandemic, claiming the lives of more than 4,000 Americans. Hours after he lay on the floor of the House of Representatives, as intruders beat on the door, Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-Kan) disclosed that he too has tested positive for coronavirus.
Alabama’s caseload topped 5,000 again for the 3rd time in 9 days - 5,046 cases today (incl. 1,732 probables). There were 10,821 tests, which produces a single-day positivity rate of 46.7%. According to BamaTracker, the 7-day positivity rate is 43.1% while Johns Hopkins puts it at 46.4%. For the week, Elmore County (130 per 100K) and Autauga County (123 per 100K), which surround Montgomery, have the highest per capita outbreak of cases in the State.
It is also noteworthy that Alabama ranks 11th in the nation in per capita cases and 46th in per capita tests over the last 7 days. No other state has nearly such a wide gap in those rankings, which explains why Alabama’s positivity rate is so high. It also suggests that we have far more cases than we know about.
There were 3,015 hospitalizations reported by 110 hospitals, an average of 27.4 patients per hospital. That is not a new record for the State, though it is close. UAB Hospital is now caring for 210 COVID patients and an additional 84 COVID-convalesced patients, which, in total, represent almost 30% of UAB’s overall patients. East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika has 85 patients, nearly twice the number of patients (47) it had on Christmas Eve.
One unusual and pernicious feature of this virus is that it is spread by persons who have no symptoms. That feature was first identified last March, but the magnitude of asymptomatic infections was not fully understood until recently. According to a model just released by the CDC, 59% of all cases are transmitted by asymptomatic people, including 35% by persons who have not yet developed symptoms, and 24% by those who will never develop symptoms.
The mob that stormed the Capitol yesterday did not just threaten the heart of American democracy. The unmasked intruders who wandered through hallways and into private offices likely transformed the riot into a uniquely toxic super-spreader event. The coronavirus thrives indoors, particularly in crowded spaces. “It has all the elements of what we warn people about,” said one expert. “People yelling and screaming, chanting, exerting themselves — all of those things provide opportunity for the virus to spread, and this virus takes those opportunities.” The totals:
12/25 - 3625
12/26 - 1032
12/27 - 2170
12/28 - 2269
12/29 - 3907
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
Jefferson County reported 792 cases today. Mobile County reported 365 cases, while Madison County had 284 cases and Tuscaloosa County 245.