82% of ICU beds full as Alabama heads toward new COVID-19 spike
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBMA) — Intensive care beds are filling up once again as coronavirus cases surge statewide.
An internal HHS memo obtained by ABC News highlights the following:
- Alabama: Daily test positivity rate reached 16.9% on Oct 22, the highest rate since mid-Sept.
- Montgomery County reported more cases in the first 3 weeks of Oct than in the entire month of Sept.
- 81.8% of ICU beds were occupied statewide as of Oct 25, with 20.1% of adult ICU beds treating COVID-19 patients.
Cases have been on a steady rise since late September, and health officials say it’s unclear whether Alabama is headed to a new spike in cases that could stretch the capacity of hospital intensive care units or a more gradual increase.
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With both Halloween and Election Day just days away, Dr. Karen Landers of the state health agency said positive test results are rising along with hospitalizations.
Thus, it is critically important that persons continue to adhere to social distancing, respiratory hygiene, and the use of the cloth face covering,
she said.
More than 2,900 people have died of COVID-19 in Alabama, and nearly 190,000 have tested positive. Over the last two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases has increased by 86%.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
