SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Even though COVID-19 has shifted from a pandemic to an endemic, Alabama is expected to continue feeling its impact in 2024 and 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to state-level mortality data, 829 Alabamians died of COVID-related causes in 2024, showing that the virus remained deadly long after the peak pandemic years. Final data for 2025 deaths is not yet available, but national estimates suggest the burden remains significant—especially among seniors and vulnerable populations
Hospitalization figures for Alabama in 2025 have not been released by the state’s Department of Public Health. However, CDC modeling projects that between 6,000 and 14,000 Americans are being hospitalized for COVID-19 each week this summer. National surveillance shows that older adults (65+) make up nearly three-quarters of hospitalizations, while children account for about 4%.
“We’ve learned to live alongside COVID, but our hospitals can’t,” said Dr. Aruna Arora, president of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. “Even small increases in cases can strain staffing and response times.”
Public health experts stress that Alabama residents should remain vigilant, as respiratory illnesses—including COVID-19, flu, and RSV—tend to rise together in the fall and winter months. Preventive steps such as updated boosters, masking in crowded indoor settings, and early testing can help keep case numbers down.
Bottom Line
COVID-19 has not disappeared from Alabama. With hundreds lost in 2024 and hospitalizations climbing nationally in 2025, the virus continues to challenge communities and healthcare systems across the state.