Alabama Lags Coronavirus Testing Rate Advised to Begin Reopening
As Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says increased coronavirus testing is needed to consider lifting pandemic protocols, data show the state lags behind most of its Southeast neighbors in testing. Alabama had tested 1.07% of its population as of April 24 through a combination of public, private and academic testing labs, according to an analysis of Department of Public Health data. A new Harvard study suggests the state would need to increase its testing more than threefold to get an adequate handle on the coronavirus outbreak. Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, UAB’s Division of Infectious Diseases director, said Alabama has yet to see a downturn in new cases, though increases have slowed somewhat. “We’re continuing to see probably a 5% increase in cases every day,” Marrazzo said. “It’s not trivial in a state with a relatively small population that is doing limited testing. It’s definitely not over yet. It’s too early to say that we have reached our peak.” Marrazzo is also concerned about the distribution of tests in the state, as areas such as the Black Belt and the Wiregrass are charting lower testing rates than more urban counties. Alabama needs more diagnostic data to be strategic in the coming weeks, and the majority of its 67 counties have tested less than 1% of residents. Read more.
The number of reported deaths in Alabama attributed to the COVID-19 virus has almost doubled in the past nine days, but that’s a slight improvement over numbers from earlier in April.
The BirminghamWatch weekly analysis of data from the Alabama Department of Health’s daily reports shows that the total reported deaths surpassed 200 for the first time Wednesday. The total of 201 was almost twice what was reported nine days prior, when 102 deaths were reported on April 13. That number was double the 50 deaths reported April 7, seven days beforehand, so the rate of doubling is slowing down. 