June 30, 2020 - Relief In The Black Belt
Relief In The Black Belt
June 30, 2020
Five months after the first COVID-19 case was reported in the U.S, Anthony Fauci testified to Congress this morning that the nation could reach 100,000 new cases a day if the current surge is not quickly brought under control. Fauci is our nation’s most trusted medical figure.
The Alabama case count was 870 today (incl. probables), which represents a slight improvement over the past weekend, but is not good by any stretch. Over 11,000 cases have been reported during the last 14 days, almost 30% of Alabama’s overall total. The positivity rate ticked down from 15.08% to 13.07% and remains on par with the likes of Florida and Texas.
After a week of daily case counts well above the average, the focus now turns to hospitalizations. At this morning’s press conference, Dr Scott Harris, head of ADPH, said more than 750 people are currently hospitalized with COVID and another 300 people are in the hospital awaiting the results of their tests. Over the last three weeks, the number of hospitalizations has drifted between 625 and 680, so Dr Harris’ announcement is significant. Dr Harris also noted that 275 ICU beds are now available throughout the State, which is about half the unoccupied ICU beds during normal times.
Jefferson County disclosed 157 new cases, followed by Mobile County with 97 and Montgomery County with 61. Continuing recent trends, both Shelby County (38) and Baldwin County (37), which border Jefferson and Mobile, respectively, also saw case counts well above their 14-day averages.
If there is any silver lining in today’s report, it is that the Black Belt finally experienced some relief. Bullock, Choctaw, Greene and Wilcox counties all reported -0- cases today, while Lowndes, Sumter and Macon counties reported 1 case each. These are all counties in the heart of the Black Belt that have seen more than their share of suffering. For instance, Bullock had a high of 34 cases on 5/26; Wilcox a high of 16 on 6/13; and Lowndes a high of 29 on 6/13. It is too early to know if this is the beginning of a favorable trend or only a reporting anomaly ... but it is something to watch.
Here are the 14-day statewide totals:
6/17 - 400
6/18 - 894
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
One more thing - wear a damn mask!