July 27, 2020 - New Record of Hospital Patients
New Record of Hospital Patients
July 27, 2020
Yesterday was an important reminder that it’s unwise to draw conclusions from a single day’s data. Weekly trends are far more informative. After cases dropped by 981 on Sunday (1,164), they rose by 657 (up to 1,821, incl. 43 probables) today. We have never seen such a dramatic fluctuation over two days, yet the 7-day average of new cases dropped only modestly over the same period - from 1,795 to 1,699. Looking at the bright side, I prefer to see cases decline instead of the other way around.
The all-important positivity rate (percentage of tests that come back positive) also saw violent daily swings on Sunday and Monday. When cases plummeted on Sunday, the one-day positivity rate stood at 14.6%. When cases soared today, the one-day positivity rate spiked to 22%, returning to where the daily rate stood at the start of the weekend. Result: the 7-day average positivity rate barely even noticed, declining slightly from 19.3% to 19.1%.
I am reminded of the famous quote by Macbeth: “It is a tale of sound and fury, signifying nothing”.
Meanwhile, statewide hospitalizations resumed its march to a new record 1,599, an increase of 87 from yesterday. UAB Hospital also reported record 116 COVID-19 inpatients, while DCH Hospital in Tuscaloosa reported 77 inpatients - a decline from 89 yesterday. Alabama also recorded 18 more deaths, close to its daily average.
It feels like this virus has refused to relinquish its grip. Fourteen members of the Florida Marlins baseball team tested positive this morning, throwing the future of the Major League Baseball season in doubt. Also testing positive and symptomatic is Robert O’Brien, Trump’s national security advisor, the highest ranking administration official to contract the disease. State Sen. Randy Price (R-Opelika), who tested positive earlier this month, has been placed on a ventilator and is fighting for his life.
Remain vigilant, everybody. This is a long battle. And, wear the damn mask.
7/14 - 1,710
7/15 - 1,817
7/16 - 2,021
7/17 - 2,003
7/18 - 2,143
7/19 - 1,777
7/20 - 1,880
7/21 - 1,467
7/22 - 1,455
7/23 - 2,399
7/24 - 1,793
7/25 - 2,125
7/26 - 1,164
7/27 - 1,821
Mobile (168), Jefferson (162), Montgomery (126) and Tuscaloosa (100) all exceeded 100 cases, while Calhoun County (home of Anniston) and Houston County (home of Dothan) set new individual records with 81 and 65 cases, respectively.