COVID-19 Takes Another Dip in Alabama – Birmingham Watch

Illustration by CDC

COVID-19 continues to trend downward in Alabama and this week is averaging about 90% fewer average daily cases and hospitalizations than when the state hit its all-time peak in January.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, the state averaged 201 new cases a day this week and an average of 323 COVID-positive hospitalized patients. The states positivity rate was 8.1%, down from more than 24% a month ago.

Jefferson County reported a positivity rate of 7.5% this week, with 39 cases.

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks four Alabama counties as having high community levels of COVID: Limestone, Dallas, Butler and Escambia. Last week, 15 counties were classified as having high COVID community levels, including Jefferson County, which this week is classified as having low community levels of the virus.

Cases and deaths have been greatest among white residents during the past four weeks, making up 50.4% of total cases and 70.6% of deaths, respectively, according to ADPH.

As usual, the highest rate of deaths, 54.6%, have been among those 75 and older during the past month.

The largest group of people being diagnosed with the disease in that time period, however, is the 25-49 age group, making up 29.6% of cases.

In total, Alabama has reported 1,517,904 cases of COVID since the pandemic began in March 2020 and 20,395 deaths. Of the states 5.08 million residents, 2.4 million have completed a series of vaccinations against the virus.

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COVID-19 Takes Another Dip in Alabama - Birmingham Watch