By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

ALABAMA — More than one-third of Alabama’s coronavirus recoveries are reported to be recovered, according to numbers from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). 

According to the weekly update from ADPH, 35,401 Alabamians are labeled under “presumed recoveries.” To be considered a “presumed recovery,” a confirmed case has to have more than 14 days since a positive test without hospitalization or more than 32 days since a positive test with hospitalization or unknown hospitalization status.

New cases of the novel coronavirus have exploded across the State of Alabama in July, but seem to be leveling off or plateauing as August begins. 

Of the state’s 91,776 confirmed cases, 20,155 have been added in the last fourteen days alone. The ADPH reports over 1,600 deaths from the virus as well. However, on Wednesday, the State of Alabama recorded only 886 new cases of the virus, just the second time the state has recorded under 1,000 new daily cases since early July. 

According to an article by Vox, Alabama has been labeled as a new “hotspot” for community transmission of the coronavirus, and state officials have taken notice. Two weeks ago, Gov. Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) announced a statewide mask mandate and later extended the order through the month of August. 

In DeKalb County, 1,721 cases have been confirmed with another 40 probable cases awaiting official results, with 325 of those added in the last 14 days. 13 deaths have occurred in DeKalb County. 

For more information, please visit the Alabama Department of Public Health COVID-19 data board at alabamapublichealth.gov. All numbers stated in this article were recorded at press time on Wednesday, August 5, 2020.