MONTGOMERY-State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mary McIntyre cautioned Alabamians about rising rates of COVID-19 and asked them to be vigilant during the days ahead. The spread of the virus has resulted in the greatest increases in hospitalizations since July, and for the past six weeks there have been at least 1,000 new cases per day. In July, Alabama hospitals were at maximum capacity.
The statistics are alarming—there have been more than 230,000 individual cases in Alabama so far with 1.5 percent of cases resulting in death (3,459). This is about 15 times the death rate from influenza. In seniors age 75 and older the risk is far greater.
Dr. Scott Harris
DATA: Colbert County has 39 deaths related to COVID-19 with 762 cases and listed as category High..Cullman County has 29 confirmed deaths COVID-19 related deaths with 986 cases and listed as category High..Franklin County has 33 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths with 564 cases and listed as category High..Lauderdale County has 50 confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 with 836 cases listed as category High.. Lawrence County has 36 COVID-19 related deaths with 532 cases listed as category High..Limestone County has 42 COVID-19 related deaths with 557 cases listed as category High..Madison County has 131 COVID-19 related deaths with 593 cases listed as category High..Marion County has 34 confirmed case related to COVID-19 with 475 cases listed as category High..Morgan County has 44 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths with 475 cases listed as category High. All of this as listed with ADPH on Tuesday, November 24.
“We are not going to get ‘a do over,’ but there are things you can do to stop the unchecked spread in many parts of Alabama,” Dr. Harris said. “Please think about it and take responsibility for your behavior.”
Dr. Mary McIntyre
As an example for others, Dr. McIntyre said her family is limiting its normally large Thanksgiving gathering to a total of seven people from two households. Before each person enters, temperatures are checked, and everyone wears facial coverings unless eating. Everyone uses hand sanitizer upon entry and prior to eating. Only one person will touch all serving utensils, they will use disposable tableware, and households will eat at separate tables to ensure they are separated by more than 6 feet. Other family members will celebrate virtually from other locations.
Encouraging COVID-19 vaccine development efforts continue. Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer,Moderna and AstraZeneca have announced they have developed promising vaccines that are safe and highly effective. The Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committee will evaluate them and make recommendations, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will review, and Operation Warp Speed will ship and preposition vaccine shipments to avoid unnecessary delays.
Input to determine priorities of when groups will receive vaccine has come from a committee of 50-60 stakeholders from across the state and the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force. Alabama’s vaccination allocation plan defines populations and the order in which they will receive vaccine in four phases. The plan can be viewed at https://www.
There is also good news in therapeutics for non-hospitalized patients with mild or moderate confirmed cases of COVID-19. Eli Lilly and Company’s investigational monoclonal antibody therapeutic, bamlanivimab, received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bamlanivimab has already been used in Montgomery. Close to 40 Alabama hospitals have placed orders for it, and a supply is expected to be delivered this week.
The public is reminded to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 by staying at home as much as possible, wearing facial coverings as much as is practical, washing hands, avoiding large gatherings, maintaining good hygiene, socially distancing, and knowing their COVID-19 status. Health officials urge everyone to protect vulnerable people from COVID-19.
Media Release/Karen Landers, M.D./ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
