September 15, 2020 - If Alabama were a country
If Alabama were a country ...
September 15, 2020
As I write this, I want to acknowledge all those who may be in harm’s way as Hurricane Sally bears down on the Gulf Coast.
Alabama reported another 701 cases (incl. 187 probables) and 5,232 tests. The daily average of cases over the last 7 days is 936 and the daily average of tests is 5,565. Our 7-day average positivity rate is 16.15% today, marking the 22nd consecutive day that our average infection rate has exceeded 10%. Only South Dakota reported a higher than 16.15% positivity rate yesterday.
Even as Alabama tops 140,000 overall cases and 2,387 deaths, I am constantly surprised to find people who still refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of this virus. I am especially shocked by those who do not comprehend, or choose to ignore, Alabama’s abysmal record during this pandemic. Consider the following facts:
If Alabama were a country, it would be in the top 25 in the world in total cases, more than Canada, Egypt or Sweden. Twice the cases in Japan or Poland. More than 5 times the number in Australia.
On a per capita basis, Alabama has had more cases per 100K population than every country on earth, except Qatar, Bahrain and French Guiana. More than twice as many as Spain. Six times as many as Italy.
Compared to other states in the U.S. Alabama is virtually tied with Arizona for 4th most cases per 1MM population (AZ - 28,743; AL - 28,586), behind only Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi.
Alabama’s death rate is better compared to our sister states (indeed, Alabama’s death rate is below the national average). However, if Alabama were a country, it would rank 16th in the world in deaths per 1MM population (487), just below Mexico and Panama.
When you consider how the U.S. compares to the rest of the world, perhaps Alabama’s statistics should not come as a surprise. The world’s original hotspots were China and South Korea, which then shifted to Italy and Spain just as the virus arrived on our shores. Later, the primary hotspots were located in South America, particularly Brazil, Peru and Columbia. India is the current major hotspot, although a second surge is starting to emerge in central and western Europe. Through it all, there has been one constant: the United States always accounts for 20-25% of the world’s cases and deaths. Here are our 14-day totals:
9/2 - 623
9/3 - 1,046
9/4 - 1,108
9/5 - 1,410
9/6 - 511
9/7 - 659
9/8 - 633
9/9 - 811
9/10 - 1,148
9/11 - 1,138
9/12 - 943
9/13 - 1,109
9/14 - 704
9/15 - 701