Alabama researcher: 'Rapid' delta variant increase

Alabama, where coronavirus cases are on the rise, trails only Mississippi in low vaccination rates among US states with just under 31% of the state’s population fully inoculated, according to the state.

Alabama’s overall positivity rate has increased each of the last two weeks, according to the state health agency. The Alabama Hospital Association says 290 people statewide were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Monday, an increase of 75% since June 20. Even with the hike, hospitalizations are still less than 10% of the state’s peak in early January.

While some disease experts have said health officials might need to reimpose disease prevention measures, Gov. Kay Ivey pushed back against the idea last week. She encouraged citizens to get vaccinated.

Derek Moates, a researcher with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said recent testing showed about 70% of 48 random samples analyzed were the delta variant.

"These high viral loads combined with low vaccination rates are creating a potentially very dangerous situation for our state. And the only way to stop it from progressing is to get vaccinated," Moates said.

Alabama has ended all virus restrictions and precautions, meaning masks and social distancing are rarely seen in public across much of the state.