Hospitals Anticipating Holiday COVID Spike

Though Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers wants people to enjoy their holidays, he says the priority should be staying out of the hospital and to not becoming infected with coronavirus.

Shaffer.

And i'm najahe sherman.

Troubling news from madison county leaders at a coronavirus update today.

"12 percent of the people admitted to a hospital, they'll die.

Then you look at the other number of 50% of those that are placed on a ventilator... the math is there, the numbers have proven, that they will not make it," that blunt assessment from madison county commission chairman dale strong came as local leaders met today to discuss the rising number of positive cases in north alabama.

They also are urging everyone to stay vigilant... to keep more people from getting sick as we celebrate december's holidays.

Waay-31s alexis scott joins us live after speaking with huntsville hospital c-e-o david spillers... she has more on his message.

Alexis..

Spillers wants people to enjoy their holidays but to stay out of the hospital and to not become infected with coronavirus.

He explained folks did not listen to the messages to not gather in large groups for thanksgiving.

Spillers says they really need people to not gather in their homes with large groups of family members and friends.

In huntsville hospital right now there's more than 300 patients in the coronavirus unit.

And if people don't follow social distancing and health guidelines, that number could increase significantly.

"iwant to stress one thing, and i almost hate to say this statement because i've tried to be positive throughout this entire process, but i think for the next couple of months until we get this under control, you just need to assume that no place is safe and there's no one that's safe, you don't know," spillers says we could expect anothr surge in cases later this month through possibly februry if people don't adhere to the guidelines.

More people are getting tested for coronavirus as the holidays approach.

He says just right down the street at the flu and fever clinic they're seeing nearly 250 patients every day.

Reporting live in huntsville alexis scott waay-31 news.