Story at a glance
- As cases and hospitalizations soar in Alabama Sen. Doug Jones holds a conversation with Anthony Fauci.
- Fauci doubled down on the importance of mask usage.
Following the same pattern as states like Texas, Florida and Arizona, Alabama has recorded its third consecutive day of record-breaking hospitalizations of patients with the coronavirus, WSFA reports.
Alabama Health Department data reports that as of July 8, 1,110 patients are in hospitals for coronavirus treatment, the highest since hospitals began reporting the data. Accompanied by this statistic are increases in daily case counts and the state’s 14-day moving average.
WSFA also reports 1,161 positive tests overnight, bringing the state total to 46,424 confirmed cases, with an additional 538 probable diagnoses.
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Since March 13, the state has seen more than 3,000 cumulative hospitalizations for COVID-19 related illnesses.
Addressing this increase in hospitalizations and cases was Alabama Senator Doug Jones (D), who spoke with Anthony Fauci of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) regarding the best preventative strategies to reduce virus transmission.
Jones opened the conversation by discussing the dramatic rise in coronavirus cases in Alabama, where cases have grown since Memorial Day weekend, as with states like Arizona, Texas and Florida. He said that people becoming lax with wearing masks in public are a contributing factor to the increase in cases, and noted that it is community spread causing more cases, not an increase in testing.
Fauci agreed with Jones that nationwide, as new cases have peak at a high level, states have opened too soon and are now seeing a resurgence that is almost double the previously high baseline of case growth.
He emphasized wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and avoiding crowds and advocated local governments mandate mask use in the absence of federal orders. “The signal should be ‘wear a mask’, period.”
Notably, Fauci disavowed the political statement facial coverings have become. “Any politicization of anything that’s a public health matter has negative consequences,” Fauci said. “That’s the reason we try the best we can to try to not let political issues get involved.”
By using masks and practicing social distancing measures, the economy can gradually and safely ease into reopening.
“If we’re going to open up safely for the economy and for employment, we need to do it in a way that is well thought out and cautious, but nonetheless continue to proceed,” Fauci concluded.
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