North Alabama urged to take coronavirus precautions

And the well being of others this thanksgiving.

Right now we're seeing a steady increase in coronavirus cases in north alabama and across the state.

Waay 31's sydney martin is live at huntsville city hall this afternoon- with their strong message to the public and their fears that this situation could get even worse.

Dan, najahe- about a dozen local officials gathered here at huntsville city hall today- we've heard from each of them throughout the last nine months as they've worked around the clock on plans to control coronavirus here in madison county.

But today all of them expressed how tired everyone is from coronavirus- but it's more important now than ever -- that we stop the spread of the virus and don't let thanksgiving cause an even greater surge in cases.

Karen landers, madison county health officer "it weighs heavily on me as a physician, as a physician of many years, it weighs heavily on me as a public health officer, the decisions that i make, in terms of the instructions i provide for isolation, for quarantine and for management of the case load of patients i actually have myself.

It weighs heavily on me as a mother."

"someone asked me what i was going to do for thanksgiving and the first thing i am going to do for thanksgiving is to continue to be thankful for in spite of this storm to be thankful for the continued opportunity to serve the citizens of alabama and i'm thankful for my family, and i'm thankful for my family that has stood by me in this and for the support that i have received."

David spillers, huntsville hospital ceo "be careful.

I know everyone wants to get together for thanksgiving.

It's not a time to have a family event.

I'm sorry.

Do it by zoom.

Do it creatively, but try not to get together.

There is just too much covid in the community and in to many cases you don't know if the person you're around has covid.

They dont' know they're covid positive.

Until they've possibly been with you."

"about 10 percent that come to the hospital with covid die.

It's just the statistic nationwide.

It's going to happen.

Every time we can avoid people coming from the hospital we're less likely to lose one of or loved ones or our friends from covid.

Dr. pam hudson, crestwood hospital ceo "so right now, covid has us on the run.

We're infecting each other at rates above our july spike.

In july we spiked to somewhere around 14 or 15 percent transmission and right now we are running 20 percent.

Last week some of the numbers indicated that we were closer to 30 percent.

I find that very alarming and again as mr. spillers has pointed out it kind of means there isn't any near end in sight if we don't do something dramatic now.

" now coming up at 5 o'clock i talked with both hospital leaders and our madison county health officer about the incredible strain the hospital systems are feeling across north alabama.

Live in huntsville sm waay 31 news.