Alabama reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Sunday, adding 7,954 new cases. That’s down 19.5% from the previous week’s tally of 9,880 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Alabama ranked 12th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States decreased 7.7% from the week before, with 436,694 cases reported. With 1.47% of the country’s population, Alabama had 1.82% of the country’s cases in the last week. Across the country, 24 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.
Etowah County reported 147 cases and eight deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 159 cases and four deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 31,709 cases and 674 deaths.
Cherokee County reported 37 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 43 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 5,968 cases and 87 deaths.
Marshall County reported 166 cases and one death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 170 cases and one death. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 30,767 cases and 401 deaths.
DeKalb County reported 82 cases and one death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 130 cases and two deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 21,117 cases and 339 deaths.
Calhoun County reported 456 cases and three deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 206 cases and three deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 36,775 cases and 650 deaths.
St. Clair County reported 215 cases and one death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 415 cases and three deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 29,917 cases and 432 deaths.
Blount County reported 120 cases and two deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 76 cases and one death. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 16,793 cases and 256 deaths.
Across Alabama, cases fell in 55 counties, with the best declines in Jefferson County, with 1,046 cases from 1,406 a week earlier; in Tuscaloosa County, with 292 cases from 547; and in St. Clair County, with 215 cases from 415.
>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases
Within Alabama, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Calhoun County with 401 cases per 100,000 per week; Escambia County with 298; and Cullman County with 283. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.
Adding the most new cases overall were Jefferson County, with 1,046 cases; Madison County, with 550 cases; and Mobile County, with 507. Weekly case counts rose in 11 counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week’s pace were in Calhoun, Coffee and Escambia counties.
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In Alabama, 83 people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 79 people were reported dead.
A total of 1,512,134 people in Alabama have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 20,322 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 95,658,236 people have tested positive and 1,053,419 people have died.
>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States
Alabama’s COVID-19 hospital admissions falling
USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, Sept. 18. Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:
- Last week: 842
- The week before that: 991
- Four weeks ago: 1,204
Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:
- Last week: 57,618
- The week before that: 58,248
- Four weeks ago: 66,210
Hospitals in 15 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 14 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 22 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.
The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.
