COVID-19 cases up as hospital works to control pandemic

HUNTSVILLE – With 51 cases of COVID-19 in the state, local industries are taking steps to reduce viral spread and Huntsville Hospital on Wednesday opened a screening clinic for those concerned they have the coronavirus.

Huntsville Hospital set up a screening facility at 120 Governors Drive. The clinic is designed for people 6 years old or older who exhibit upper respiratory illnesses, including influenza, sore throat, strep throat, fevers or potential exposure to COVID-19. Patients will only be tested for COVID-19 if their exam indicates it is warranted.

Registration information is collected while patients are in their car, and they remain in the car until they are contacted by cellphone when it’s time to come inside for an evaluation. No money is collected at the site, and bills are submitted to the patient’s insurance.

People who believe they have been infected may also call their doctor or the ADPH hotline number for information on testing: 888-264-2256.

Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers said Wednesday afternoon that all specimens taken at the hospital are sent to Montgomery for testing, although they are working to have them processed locally to speed up results. Huntsville Hospital was awaiting results on 164 tests.

“If you don’t have symptoms, don’t be tested,” Dr. Karen Landers of the Alabama Department of Public Health said Wednesday. “That could give you a false sense of security. You may test negative and think you’re OK, but you could get infected six months from now. Don’t use a negative test to keep you from doing the appropriate health measures to sustain your own health and protect your family.”

She said unnecessary testing also uses up supplies that are better devoted to those with symptoms.

The county-by-county breakdown of COVID-19 cases in the state reported Wednesday afternoon included 25 in Jefferson County, eight in Lee County, four each in Shelby and Elmore counties, three in Tuscaloosa County and two in Montgomery County. One case each was reported in Baldwin, Calhoun, Limestone, Madison and St. Clair counties.

Dr. Jodie Dionne-Odom, a specialist in infectious diseases at UAB Medicine, said the numbers will go up.

“We have not tested all the patients who have symptoms, so we do expect these numbers, both nationwide and here in Alabama, are significant underestimates of the true case rates,” she said Wednesday.

Dionne-Odom said frequent hand-washing and social distancing are the most important steps in stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

“The recommendation for social distancing is basically to keep 6 feet between yourself and anyone else you’re in contact with,” she said.