MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Alabama on Wednesday reported its second-highest number of new COVID-19 cases in a single day as medical officials continued to express concern about a rise in the number of people with the respiratory illness.
As of Wednesday, the state had reported more than 31,000 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, and at least 879 deaths from the virus. More than a fourth of the cases came in the last two weeks. The state on Tuesday added 954 cases, the second-highest number since the outbreak began.
A medical professor said the increase may be attributable to more people traveling and developing a weariness with strict social distancing rules.
“I think there is a certain amount of COVID fatigue where people are hoping to go back to what was our previous normal,” said Dr. Molly Fleece, an assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“And so, we are seeing more people in crowded situations, whether in restaurants or bars or beaches. More people are traveling.”