A UAB epidemiologist on Tuesday said analysis of the latest data indicates the U.S could reach herd immunity against COVID-19 by late spring or early summer. That milestone would be thanks to a combination of vaccinations and the discovery that more people were infected early in the pandemic than have tested positive.
Dr. Suzanne Judd said studies indicate more people have antibodies for COVID-19 than tested positive for the virus. In areas like New York, a Columbia University study found, the ratio is 10 to 1 10 people with antibodies for one positive test.
In Alabama, she said, it s believed to be a 5-1 ratio.
University received 700 vaccines last week, Med Clinic director says theplainsman.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theplainsman.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Auburn University has reported its lowest number of COVID-19 cases since students returned for the spring semester in January and its third lowest number since August.
For the third consecutive day, fewer than 900 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations were reported across Alabama.
On Monday, 862 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations were reported, according to data published by Bama Tracker. Saturday and Sunday also had fewer than 900 reported COVID-19 hospitalizations. This compares to the 949 COVID-19 hospitalizations reported on Friday.
DCH Health System in Tuscaloosa had 41 COVID-19 inpatients on Monday, with seven patients being treated in the ICU. This is a drastic decline of COVID-19 inpatients compared to the beginning of the month, when the health system had 114 COVID-19 inpatients with 29 being treated in the ICU on Feb. 1.
The East Alabama Medical Center in Auburn/Opelika reported Monday afternoon that over the weekend it reached a new post-third-peak low with 26 inpatients each Saturday and Sunday, which is the lowest since Nov. 7. On Monday, the medical center reported having 28 COVID-19 inpatients.
According to EAMC, to accommodate the number of people who need their second COVID-19 shot, about 800 of the roughly 1,200 doses EAMC administers daily will go to those receiving a second dose.