June 17, 2020 - Three-Ring Circus
Three-Ring Circus
June 17, 2020
On a day when the death toll in the United States is expected to top 120,000, Alabama has somewhat receded in the news with the disclosure that “only” 400 new cases (including probables) were reported by ADPH - down from 640 yesterday. Although I expect this pullback is only temporary, it is noteworthy.
Although there was an increase in reported tests from yesterday (5,289 compared to 2,742), the 7-day average has remained level for several days (5,375). Meanwhile, the 7-day positivity rate also remained level at just over 14%. New daily hospitalizations dropped from 56 to 37, but current hospitalizations reached a record high 678. Several local news articles have focused on some hospitals nearing capacity - DCH in Tuscaloosa; Baptist and Jackson hospitals in Montgomery; even UAB in Birmingham. Five more Alabamians died today from the virus (790 total).
The fact that these numbers might be characterized as a “respite” is surely depressing. More Americans have now died in the last 100 days than all the Americans who died during World War I (both combat and other deaths, including soldiers who died of the Spanish flu). And, as President Trump prepares to launch a flurry of indoor campaign rallies - without masks, physical distancing or other public health precautions - the suffering and death in this country will continue to mount with no end in sight.
It did not have to be this way - with only 5% of the world’s population, the U.S. has suffered more than 25% of the world’s COVID-related deaths. Despite the world’s most advanced medical and research facilities and best-trained medical professionals, we have failed to match (much less, lead) the developed world in the battle to contain this virus. Our coronavirus task force has been disbanded, Drs. Fauci and Birx have been sidelined, and our national leadership has resembled a three-ring circus. Here are the totals:
6/4 - 221
6/5 - 640
6/6 - 458
6/7 - 457
6/8 - 425
6/9 - 497
6/10 - 567
6/11 - 856
6/12 - 865
6/13 - 891
6/14 - 1,041
6/15 - 657
6/16 - 640
6/17 - 400
Jefferson Co. led the way with 48 new cases, followed by Montgomery with 34 and Marshall with 30.