October 17, 2020 - "Excess Deaths"
"Excess Deaths"
October 17, 2020
America continues to lose ground in its battle against COVID-19. There were over 71,500 reported cases in the U.S. yesterday, a daily level reached only 6 times since the pandemic began - all of which occurred in July. In the nation at large, daily cases increased by 14.4% compared to the prior week and hospitalizations increased by 7.7%. The average national positivity rate over the last week was 5.3%.
In Alabama, the number of reported cases rose for the 4th consecutive day - 1,288 cases (incl. 316 probables). This is the 4th time in the last 5 days that cases have exceeded 1,000. Daily cases have increased in Alabama by 16% compared to the prior week, while hospitalizations have increased by 7.2%. Alabama’s average positivity rate over the last week was 16%.
There were also 7,613 tests in Alabama. While the number of tests reported in the U.S. rose by 3% over the prior week, they fell in Alabama by 8% over the same period.
There are now 823 patients in 102 reporting hospitals, a decline of 36 from yesterday, but there were 6 fewer hospitals reporting. Weekend reporting from hospitals is often incomplete.
A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the number of “excess deaths” in the U.S. (in addition to confirmed deaths attributable to COVID-19) range between 23,674 and 79,201 through October 3, 2020 - meaning that many more Americans have likely died of COVID-19 than previously counted. If these “excess deaths” are added to the confirmed COVID deaths, the number of Americans who have died of COVID-19 is likely between 250,000 and 300,000 through October 3. Here are the 14-day totals in Alabama:
10/4 - 789
10/5 - 544
10/6 - 764
10/7 - 941
10/8 - 557
10/9 - 1490
10/10- 1061
10/11 - 816
10/12 - 734
10/13 - 1117
10/14 - 784
10/15 - 1185
10/16 - 1212
10/17 -1288
There were 164 cases in Jefferson County, followed by 75 in Madison County. Only 3 counties now have 14-day positivity rates under 10%, led by Mobile County with 9.03%. Nineteen counties have rates that exceed 20%.