The Associated Press
Alabama added 3,638 coronavirus cases to its total, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.
ADPH’s Dec. 15 10 a.m. figures show the state has had 301,533 COVID-19 cases since March. Of the recent increase, 2,241 were listed as confirmed cases; 1,297 were presumed cases. Today’s totals include a backlog of 538 cases from various labs for tests reported Sept. 29-Dec. 12.
Jefferson County saw the largest increase, adding 568 cases since yesterday.
The death toll rose by 22 to 4,124. A record high 2,286 people are currently hospitalized with coronavirus.
In other coronavirus news, the first COVID-19 vaccine in Alabama was administered Tuesday morning at Southeast Health in Dothan, as hospitals around the state announced plans to begin distributing immunizations later in the day.
In Cullman at the Cullman Regional Medical Center yesterday, Donna Snow, a critical care nurse, received the shot at 8:43 a.m., according to the hospital. She has been a nurse for 42 years and has described COVID-19 as “scary.” Cullman Regional Medical Center is one of many hospitals in the state dealing with a surge of coronavirus cases. The hospital’s intensive care unit has been at or over capacity since early November.
“I’m hopeful that more people are able to take the vaccine so we can begin to see a decline in the number of critically-ill patients and families impacted by this disease,” Snow said.
Cullman Regional will continue to distribute vaccines by appointment throughout the week. A total of 15 hospitals in Alabama received the first shipments of coronavirus vaccines yesterday and today.