Increase in coronavirus cases seen in North Alabama

In the first 2 weeks of november, more cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in madison county than in the entire month of october!

Officials fear it could get even worse!

As the number of younger people infected with the virus goes up..

Hospital resources are becoming even more strained.

Waay 31's sophia borrelli is live for us in huntsville after hearing from local leaders at a weekly coronavirus update news conference.

Sophia why are health officials saying this trend is disturbing?

Dr. karen landers said today - the percent positivity in alabama is about 11 point 5 percent right now.

That's the percentage of tests coming back positive for coroanvirus.

Normally she says the goal is to be around 5 percent.

Doctor karen landers says the high percent of covid - 19 tests coming back positive in the state means the disease is not going away.

Dr. karen landers, madison county health officer: "clearly an indication of more covid disease."

She also talked about the increases in cases in different age groups - especially in young people.

Dr. karen landers, madison county health officer: "we do have an increase in the numbers of cases in the 5 to 17 age group...we're trending up in that age group as well as in the 18 to 24 age group."

Doctor landers said if we don't see the number of cases and hospitalizations go down - our health care system could suffer.

Dr. karen landers, madison county health officer: "without blunting this curve, our health care system is very likely to not be able to handle this into the winter season.

You have to remember that people are in hospitals for reasons other than covid 19."

Doctor landers stressed this importance of making choices that will help to reduce the spread of the virus - until there is a vaccine available for all.

Live in huntsville - sophia borrelli waay