July 30, 2020 - No, We Are Not New York
No, We Are Not New York
July 30,2020
The case count today is discouraging. In fact, at 1,980 (incl. 57 probables), it is the second highest in the last 12 days. For those who must have a morsel of good news, I’ll give you this: the 7-day average of new cases actually dropped from 1,710 to 1,472. Unfortunately, the reason for this decline is that one week ago today, we saw a record 2,399 cases and that number is no longer included in the 7-day calculation period.
Twenty-seven more Alabamians reportedly died yesterday, which is especially concerning because we tend to follow along the same path as Arizona, Florida, California and Mississippi, all of which set new records for deaths in a single day today.
ADPH reported 11,776 tests today to go along with 1,724 tests yesterday. The average for the two days is 6,750, which is well below the 7-day average of 9,288 daily tests. After taking into account the decline in tests and the uptick in cases, the 7-day positivity rate now stands at 19.1%, exactly the same as it was two days ago.
It is important to remember that the World Health Organization advised long ago that a state or country should not attempt to reopen until its positivity rate is below 5%. Twenty states currently have a rate that low, including many states that Southern governors pitied in April and May. Do you remember when Gov. Ivey allowed Alabama to reopen in May, insisting that “we are not New York”? Well, New York’s positivity rate is now 1.05% and residents of Alabama must still quarantine for 14 days before traveling there. Other states we might like to emulate include CT (1.44%); NJ (1.55%); MI (2.24%); DC (2.3%); and MA (2.62%).
Meanwhile, statewide hospitalizations reportedly remain level at 1,595, but the situation is getting more dire in certain parts of the State. For instance, UAB has a record 119 COVID-19 inpatients. Huntsville Hospital, the second largest medical facility in the State, was forced to turn away patients from hospitals in Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi because it is treating a record 101 patients (including a 15-month old) and is running out of space. Montgomery-area hospitals are treating 133 COVID-19 patients, including Baptist-Montgomery (96) and Jackson (37).
Keep the faith and let’s hope for better news tomorrow. Wear your damn mask, please.
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
7/28 - 1,251
7/29 - 1,416
7/30 - 1,980
Jefferson (249), Mobile (196), Ma 21,dison (157), Baldwin (119) counties topped 100 again. Brand new records were set by Colbert (57); and Blount (35) counties. Sheriff Moon of Blount County better start looking for another job.