City of Huntsville COVID Update: Fluctuating Case Numbers and ERAP

Cases of COVID-19 in Madison County have dropped in the past week.

That’s the positive news Crestwood Medical Center CEO Dr. Pam Hudson brought to the COVID-19 briefing Wednesday at the Huntsville City Council chambers.

“There is a reduction in new cases over the last seven days of 10 percent,’’ she said. “Some good news there as community transition slowly begins to decline.”

She also reported a drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations, but it has come with a dark price.

“There was a modest decline in the percentage of hospital patients in care because of COVID,’’ she said. “Unfortunately, some of that decline is related to the increase of deaths and there were 16 deaths in the last seven days in our county. The average age is 59.’’

As of Wednesday in Madison County hospitals, there were 140 inpatients with 39 in Intensive Care Units and 30 on ventilators. Hudson said 90 percent of inpatients had not been vaccinated.

Hudson said the prognosis moving forward looks positive.

“We peaked in September and now we’re halfway down the backside of the curve,’’ she said.

Hudson suggested those eligible get the booster vaccine when available.

“The booster is then a next step in looking to the future, making sure that we do everything that we can to secure safety for the next year, lets say, and studies will be ongoing,” she said.

“(It) offsets that slight decrease of waning immunity in the 6-8 month time frame. The other reason to boost is that it prepares our population for the next surge.”

Hudson urged everyone to maintain safeguards.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,’’ she said. “Some (health experts) predict we’ll never be back to the baseline.’’

Meanwhile, Scott Erwin, the city’s manager of community development, was at the briefing to highlight the The U.S. Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

The ERAP provides funding for rental and utility assistance to households that have been affected by the pandemic. Huntsville received approximately $6.7 million in ERAP funds in January.

Since the ERAP funds began to be distributed in March, the city has given out just over $4.1 million, or 68 percent, of the funds to serve about 630 households in the community.

The ERAP programs in Huntsville will be able to give out a total of $10.7 million in funds to families that need assistance.

Erwin said nearly twice as many families are facing eviction as is the normal rate this time of year.

“Applicants who have received a court-ordered conviction will take priority in our system,’’ he said.

To apply for ERAP assistance go to https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/covid-19-emergency-rental-assistance/.