Surge in COVID-19 Hospitalizations Sparks Concern Across the US

COVID-related hospitalizations in Alabama have increased by 45%, reflecting a national trend of rising hospital admissions due to COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows an increase in hospital admissions, emergency department visits, test positivity, and wastewater levels tracking across the country. The CDC attributes the increase to a slight summer wave and states that hospital admissions levels remain low for over 99% of the country. While hospital admissions are up 12% nationally, deaths due to the virus remain flat. Since the start of the pandemic, over 6 million Americans have been hospitalized due to COVID-19, with 1.1 million deaths.