Update on COVID-19 in Alabama

For 4 weeks now, the Legislature has had a weekly conference call with the Governor and some of the State’s top Department and Agency heads. We always hear from the Governor and State Health Officer, Dr. Scott Harris, and today was no different, but today we also heard from State School Super Dr Eric Mackey, AG Steve Marshall, Dr. Don Williamson (AL Hospital Association), and Brandon Farmer (AL Nursing Home Assoc). We usually hear from our Commerce Secretary, Greg Canfield and DHR, Medicaid, Prisons as well.

There was some good news in the call today, although a lot of concern over the anticipated surge in COVID 19 cases.

First, the updated stats for COVID 19 from our State Health Officer as of 4/6/20:
• Just under 1,900 confirmed cases confirmed in AL to date in 66 of AL’s 67 counties.
• We currently have 250 hospitalized COVID 19 patients, and about 1/2 of those (125) are in ICU.
• We have 44 deaths reported in AL to date, but not all those have been confirmed that the death was due to COVID 19 yet.
• Of the almost 1,900 cases in the State, 270 of those are and were healthcare workers.
• Dr Harris and the Governor said all the models based on the data suggest Alabama will hit its peak of cases 2 weeks from today, and this is why they entered the Stay at Home State Health Order last Friday.

In anticipation of the surge of cases for our State, Alternative Care Sites are being set up now to treat COVID 19 patients, especially in the major cities/counties in the State that have the most cases and higher density population. Here, the Sheraton Hotel by the BJCC is being set up to take patients if a surge overwhelms the hospitals. The AL Core of Engineers in conjunction with the State Health Department is leading the effort to make sure the sites are determined and meet all guidelines to treat patients in an over-flow capacity if needed. The AL National Guard continues to work on the plan for the transport of patients to these Alternative Care Sites from hospitals and from rural areas.

But, some very positive news is that we have also freed up our hospital beds for the expected surge. According to Dr Williamson, 52% of all our beds in hospitals are available and open for use. We also have 800 available ventilators, and no one has been unable to get a ventilator who needed one as of today. Plans are in place to be able to move ventilators as needed with a surge. Also, 35% of all ICU beds are available as of today. The concern still remains for the PPE. The State continues to follow up on every lead for PPE, but 90% of leads fail mostly because not medically adequate.

We have 231 Skilled Nursing Facilities in the State with 31,000 staff. 31 of those have had a COVID-19 infected patient or staff member. These facilities are also looking at areas or wings that could be isolated in the facility to accept COVID-19 surge patients if necessary.

The Governor urged us to encourage people to follow the guidelines set forth in the latest Health Order, and I urge all of you to do so. I have only seen people doing their very best to keep safe distancing from each other and follow the guidelines for weeks now, and it is hard to believe we have some people who are still not taking this seriously.

Friends and neighbors, this is Holy Week for Christians, and we have a lot to be thankful for even in this time of crisis. I have been especially grateful for my time with my family, and for being able to help so many people get information or answer their questions due to my contacts as a State Representative. Being able to serve others is such a blessing! Let’s pledge to pray each day this week especially to thank God for all our blessings, especially the things that are important, like friends, family, and hopefully health; for living in a great State and the greatest country in the world; to pray for those leaders making decisions to have God’s wisdom as they do so, and for us to have God’s wisdom as we deal with this virus; to pray for those affected by this virus, for healing for those who have it and for peace for those who have lost a friend or family member to it; and most of all to thank God for our Savior who gives us hope in eternal life beyond this world. Lets remember we are all in this together, even if we are 6ft apart!

Peace,

Rep David Faulkner