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The number of patients hospitalized in Alabama for COVID-19 hit a new all-time high on Monday, a worrying sign for healthcare workers who are already preparing for a surge in the coming weeks.
“I am very concerned,” said Donald Williamson, president of the Alabama Hospital Association. “We are in a much darker place than I expected last week.”
The Alabama Department of Public Health reported that state hospitals were treating 1,717 coronavirus patients on Monday, with 104 hospitals. That’s a record for patients infected with the virus in Alabama, far surpassing the previous record of 1613 set on August 6.
Williamson said he expects the numbers to rise even more as those infected at Thanksgiving start showing up in hospitals later this week.
“We won’t see the effects of Thanksgiving at best until the middle or the end of this week,” said Williamson. “In mid-December, we’ll see the full effect of Thanksgiving, only to have Christmas and New Years set us up for the January disaster.”
The number of hospital patients jumped by more than 100 overnight, with the state reporting 1,603 people being treated for the virus on Sunday. And current virus hospitalizations have more than doubled since the end of October.
The high number of hospitalizations reflects cases that spread before Thanksgiving, said Dr. Karen Landers, regional health manager for the Alabama Department of Public Health. Earlier this month, the state’s 7-day average for new cases crossed the 2,000 mark for the first time.
“On average, most people develop disease around the seventh day after exposure,” Landers said. “Alabama already has a high number of COVID-19 cases, and a further increase due to the recent Thanksgiving holiday could occur as early as this week.”
The current increase in cases is affecting hospitals statewide. The University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital treated 125 inpatients for COVID-19 on Monday, a new record and an increase of 46 patients since Thanksgiving Day.
The Huntsville Hospital Health System has 302 inpatients with COVID-19 in northern Alabama, well above its peak in August.
Tuscaloosa’s DCH health system on Sunday admitted 21 new patients, the highest number of new COVID-19 patients in the past three weeks.
Hospitals that were taxed over the summer have already converted other intensive care beds to COVID beds. It was more difficult to add staff. As COVID cases increase in the community, they have also increased among healthcare workers, increasing shortages as hospitals grapple with critically ill patients.
No hospital reported a shortage of beds or equipment. Leisha Harris, spokesperson for Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, said the hospital still has the capacity to take care of all patients who need medical attention.
“Grandview Medical Center has the capacity to hospitalize additional patients,” Harris said. “As a reminder, care for any person suspected or confirmed of COVID-19 is provided in a small area and separate from other patients. We also have adequate ventilators and PPE now to meet the needs of our patients.
Cases have increased in southern Alabama, but the University of Southern Alabama Health still has capacity for more patients, Associate Vice President Gary Mans said.
“Like other hospitals, we are seeing an increase in cases of patients with COVID-19,” Mans said. “In our unique role for our region, USA Health provides a significant number of specialized services. This often results in installations at or near full capacity on a regular basis. “
Williamson said hospitals are considering their options as cases increase. Some have discussed postponing elective procedures or seeking help from the US military. Williamson said the state has little surge capacity if hospitalizations continue to rise.
White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr Deborah Birx said people heading to large Thanksgiving gatherings should assume they have the virus in an interview on Face the Nation.
“If you’re young and you come together, you need to get tested about five to ten days later,” Birx said. “But you have to assume that you are infected and not go near your grandparents, aunts and other people without a mask.”
Williamson said it was unlikely the number of coronavirus cases will drop anytime soon. There is little public support for health ordinances that could shut down businesses or schools, he said. If the Alabamians stayed home like they did in March, it could help ease the pressure on hospitals, Williamson said. But that would force many people to forgo the races and holiday gatherings.
“Since 1982, when I took my first job in public health, I have never seen anything that threatens the health care system as much as the next six to eight weeks,” Williamson said.
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