July 2, 2020 - When Will We Wake Up?
When Will We Wake Up?
July 2, 2020
On the eve of the long holiday weekend, Alabama reported 1,162 cases today. This represents a new statewide record, apart from the number reported on 6/29 that combined the totals for two days.
After being range-bound between 870 and 1,100 for days, it feels like we are sitting on a launchpad, preparing for take-off to a frightening new place. The rocket fuel for this flight is the hospitalization rate. At the start of this week, there were 650 COVID-19 patients being treated in Alabama hospitals. Now, there are 843 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, a net increase of 30% after 4 consecutive record-setting days.
It is a tragic truth that soaring hospitalizations inevitably lead to more senseless deaths. After 55 deaths in the last three days, our rocket ship is pointed in that direction. Yet, al.com is reporting that Tuscaloosa college students have hosted “COVID-19 parties,” purposely inviting persons who tested positive and offering cash prizes to whoever gets sick first.
What will it take to get Alabama’s attention? When the President publicly mocks masks and refuses to wear one, the challenge seems insurmountable. Texas received a wake-up call yesterday when its largest medical complex reported it has no more ICU bed capacity, leaving Texans defenseless against the latest onslaught from the virus. Florida also received a wake-up call this morning when it reported more than 10,000 new cases for the first time, just shy of the worst daily case count the State of New York has ever had.
What is Alabama waiting for? Will it happen only after thousands of new cases are reported on a daily basis, as projected by certain reputable forecasting models? Will it happen only after college football is restricted, or even cancelled, because of safety concerns?
I wish I knew the answer to that question. The days following this holiday weekend will tell us a lot. Speaking of which, unless there is urgent news, I plan to take a breather from this post tomorrow and Saturday, and I’ll see you again on Sunday.
Here are the latest totals:
6/19 - 796
6/20 - 547
6/21 - 472
6/22 - 433
6/23 - 643
6/24 - 967
6/25 - 1,142
6/26 - 977
6/27 - 900
6/28 - 1,046
6/29 - 1,047
6/30 - 870
7/1 - 917
7/2 - 1,162
Jefferson County continued its torrid pace with 145 cases, followed by Mobile at 100 and Marshall County with 85. With 49 cases today, Baldwin County is becoming a major cause for concern, especially with the approaching July 4th weekend at the Gulf beaches.