From The Tribune staff reports
MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Department of Public Health has been giving daily updates on coronavirus cases in the state using an online dashboard. The website shows the total cumulative number of positive cases in the state and in each county. It also shows deaths and the total number of people tested in Alabama.
The numbers continue to grow daily on the website because it offers a cumulative count. But a software called Bama Tracker is now offering more, in-depth details on cases in the state.
As testing increases, more positive results will naturally occur. But the key to knowing when the spread of the virus is beginning to flatten is to look at how many tests it takes to get a positive result. For example, on March 29, Bama Tracker shows it took 5.73 tests to get a positive result. On May 20, that number had increased to 12.88. That means the number of people getting tested for COVID-19 and getting a positive result was less on May 20 than on March 29. That trend began on April 25 and there has not been a dramatic increase since.
Another helpful chart on Bama Tracker is the Rt. Rt is the rate of reproduction of the virus. If Rt is above 1.0, the virus will spread quickly, according to the website. When Rt is below 1.0, the virus will stop spreading. The Rt has been at 1.0 or below since April 13.
As of May 20, 0.266% of Alabamians had tested positive for COVID-19. Of those, 0.0108% (528) have died. Alabama’s 13,058 cases make up 0.82% of total cases in the U.S.
Bama Tracker also offers surveys. In a recent poll, 19.77% of people said they will not get a vaccine once one is made available.
Once a vaccine is available, will you get it? Thanks for voting! |
Yes, but not immediately (40.42%, 597 Votes)
Yes, immediately (39.81%, 588 Votes) No I would not get it (19.77%, 292 Votes) |
Total Votes: 1,477 |
It is yet to be seen if the governor’s new Safer at Home order has impacted numbers of cases in Alabama. Either way, it is important to remember to stay safe and protect yourself against the virus. If you are feeling ill, you should stay at home and check your temperature often.