Could More Coronavirus Hot Spots Be Coming?

Could More Coronavirus Hot Spots Be Coming?

Per 100,000 people.

>>> as the state reopens some data predicts increase in cases throughout the state in the next month.

Waay 31's sydney martin is live in huntsville tonight after working to learn what is being done to prepare for a potential spike.

Sydney.

>> najahe, today as governor announced reopening more of the state the alabama department of public health director talked about testing across the state and how it's preparing for the possibility of more hot spots.

Now alabama department of public health director scott harris said having the proper amount of testing will help contain a spike by being able to test people in a timely manner.

Harris said only ten of the 67 counties in alabama need more test kits.

He didn't say which counties are short but no county has enough tests for anyone who wants one.

Harris said about 2% of the population in each county is being tested each month.

>> where we can certainly stand to improve is our ability to respond quickly when we have hot spots, when we have a sudden demand for a large number of tests.

When that happens in a populated county with a lot of testing capacity already we can handle that pretty well.

When it happens in a county that has less resources it's more difficult to do that.

>> now, harris said the goal is for private labs or for community partners to step up and help those ten counties who need more test kits and he says responding quickly to a spike in cases is how you manage hot spots and keep them from getting worse.

I also spent the day trying to learn from local hospitals what they are doing to prepare for a spike of coronavirus cases here across north alabama.

I'm still waiting to hear back from the hospitals tonight.

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