Alabama COVID-19 Findings

Recently, I examined the Alabama Department of Public Health‘s (ADPH) COVID-19 dashboard, and made some interesting findings.

As usual with many reporting outlets, whether official, governmental, or news, there are often important underlying figures omitted, either through carelessness, or willfulness, which give understanding to the greater picture. In this instance, state population, and population percentages were missing.

According to the latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, as of July 1, 2019, Alabama has an estimated population of 4,903,185, and the Black or African American percentage of that population is 26.8%. Thus, when observing item numbers 1, 6, and 9 citing the percentage of Alabamians tested, and distribution of the disease as being “practically equally affected,” the reality is that because of their minority population status, the Black or African American community is affected more significantly, and disproportionately affected with respect for the total population.

As well, residents aged >65+ constitute 16.9% of the population.

Alabama has a total of 15,330 staffed beds, in 89 hospitals statewide.

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1.) Only 3.789% (almost 4%) of all Alabamians have been tested for COVID-19.

2.) Of the 551 related deaths in the state, 34.2448% were hospitalized.

3.) The majority of COVID-19 cases (39.75%, or very nearly 40%), were aged 25-49 – the “prime” of life.

4.) Those aged 65, or over, constituted only 23.67% (almost 24%) of all cases.

5.) Overall, more females than males were affected – 58%.

6.) Blacks and Whites were practically equally affected – 41.16% & 40.16%, respectively.

7.) COVID-19 deaths were 81.7% for those aged 65, or more.

8.) Of which males constituted the majority share – 54.8%.

9.) Again, Blacks and Whites were very nearly equally affected, with 43.4% & 51%, respectively.

And this is alarming about Healthcare workers, professionals and paraprofessionals, alike.

10.) 13.2819% of all cases were Healthcare workers.

11.) However, only 6.0518% were Long-Term Care employees.

12.) There are a number of peculiar findings on the per capita cases, among them, the 67.5/100k rate in Fayette County (16,302; 27.5²mi.), while adjoining Lamar County (13,805; 24.1²mi.) has 130.4/100K; the state’s two highest rates – 1881.6 in Lowndes County (9726; 15.8²mi.), and 1743.1 in adjoining Butler County (19,448; 27.0) – are in stark contrast to Blount County (57,826; 88.9/²mi.)with 84.7/100K, and 1403.0/100K in Franklin County (31,362; 50.0²mi.)… even though they’re all quite similar in population, and in population distribution/density.