Alabama’s count of citizens hospitalized due to COVID-19 broke records for the third day in a row on Wednesday, the same week the state’s total death count surpassed 1,000 people.
There are currently 1,073 Alabamians in the hospital with COVID-19, and 903 of them are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Alabama’s new confirmed case count has hovered around 1,000 individuals each day this week, per the website BamaTracker, which keeps track of coronavirus data in the Yellowhammer State.
On Wednesday, 88% of Alabama’s counties reported a new coronavirus case.
Particularly troubling to experts is the state’s continued increase in the percent of tests coming back positive for the coronavirus.
That percentage has increased every single day in the month of July. Currently, 9.92% of Alabama’s coronavirus tests are showing positive results, which is one of the worst rates in the nation.
The seven-day average of deaths per day has gone between 10 and 14 so far in July. Alabama’s total death toll from the coronavirus sits at 1,032 individuals.
The 1,032 individuals who have died from the coronavirus come out of the 46,424 Alabamians who have a confirmed case of the disease, a fatality rate of 2.22%.
The relatively reassuring news in the recent data is that more of the new cases are coming from younger people, who have a much-reduced risk of dying from the coronavirus.
As a result of the rising levels of COVID-19 across Alabama, many cities and counties have begun mandating masks, which the current science says is the most effective tool at controlling the spread of the virus.
Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Mobile, Madison, Tuscaloosa and Selma are among the cities that have required masks.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has confirmed the legality of local mask orders.
Governor Kay Ivey has strongly encouraged mask usage in public comments but has declined to move forward with a statewide mask rule, arguing that it would be unenforceable.
President Donald Trump recently said he was “all for masks” during an appearance on Fox Business Network.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
