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Alabama hospitals on Thursday reported 2,223 total COVID-19 patients, including 53 children. Hospitalizations neared 3,000 earlier this summer. Harris said the drop in cases is, on one hand, a good sign.
But much of the decrease is due to sustained high numbers of daily deaths, with hospitals across the state reporting up to "40, 50, 60 deaths a day," Harris said. As of Thursday, Alabama hospitals reported 546 suspected COVID-19 deaths in the previous 10 days, more than 50 deaths per day on average.
"Unfortunately, patients are dying from COVID in our hospitals despite our best efforts," said UAB's Dr. Sarah Nafziger this week.
Deaths are considered a "lagging indicator," which means they typically spike after a hospitalizations. Alabama hospitals report suspected daily deaths to the Alabama Department of Public Health, which investigates each before officially confirming the deaths in their own data.