Alabama Sets Another Single Day Record For Coronavirus Cases

MONTGOMERY, AL — Daily records for new coronavirus cases in Alabama have been set multiple times over the last month, as the state again topped its record when the Alabama Department of Public Health reported nearly 4,000 new COVID-19 cases overnight Wednesday.

The footnote to Wednesday's total of 3,928 new caes is that 702 of them were backlogged from November 29. However, even without the extra backlogged cases, the state still broke the daily record for new cases.

Some have pointed to the higher number of tests administered in November, but what is particularly alarming to health experts is that the state’s rate of positive tests is currently 33 percent, much higher than the national average, and the sixth highest positivity rate in the country.

The states with the highest percentage of positive COVID-19 tests, as reported by Johns Hopkins:

1. Idaho: 49 percent
2. Iowa: 43.4 percent
3. South Dakota: 41.1 percent
4. Oregon: 40.9 percent
5. Kansas: 39.9 percent
6. Alabama: 33 percent
7. Pennsylvania: 29.8 percent
8. Arizona: 23 percent
9. Mississippi: 22 percent
10. Utah: 19.6 percent

Despite the high number of positive tests and the record-breaking numbers of new cases, Gov. Kay Ivey said this week she would like to see all Alabama school students back on campuses for in-person instruction.

Several school systems have reverted back to online learning platforms over the last week due to the spike in COVID-19 cases statewide. Before Thanksgiving, Alabama's public schools had reported 2,261 cases of the virus within the schools.

"Due to COVID-19, 2020 has been an extremely challenging year for everyone, especially for our parents, teachers and students," Ivey said in a statement Tuesday. "I’m extremely grateful for the flexibility everyone has shown as they have adapted to virtual instruction. However, virtual and remote instruction are stop-gap measures to prevent our students from regressing academically during the pandemic. These practices cannot — and should not — become a permanent part of instructional delivery system in 2021."

Ivey added, "As we begin the holiday season and contemplate a return to a normalcy in 2021, I strongly urge our education leadership on both the state and local levels to return to in-person instruction as soon as possible.

"My administration will work with Dr. Mackey, all of our local superintendents and the Legislature to ensure that our kids are back in the classroom in 2021. Our employers, our families, our communities, Alabama’s taxpayers, and most importantly, our students, deserve nothing less."

Alabama counties reporting the most new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday:

• Jefferson County: 688 new cases
• Tuscaloosa County: 225 new cases
• Etowah County: 213 new cases
• Madison County: 202 new cases
• Mobile County: 196 new cases

SEE ALSO:

• Jefferson County Passes 500 Coronavirus Deaths
• Birmingham City Schools Return To Virtual Learning
• Coronavirus In November: Alabama Adds More than 57K New Cases