Saraland Mayor Dr. Howard Rubenstein has posted an update on Facebook about the Covid-19 situation in Saraland. According to Dr. Rubenstein, Saraland has added 40 new cases of the virus in recent weeks. He noted that cases are on the rise, and everyone must improve their efforts to combat the spread of the virus.
Dr. Rubenstein thanked the citizens who have been social distancing and practicing good hygiene. This includes maintaining six feet of distance in public places and sanitizing your hands after such trips.
The mayor also delved into a topic that has stirred a ton of controversy on social media: face masks. Dr. Rubenstein stated that based on his own review of the scientific information available, masks are effective at slowing transmission of the coronavirus. He pointed at that although cloth masks are not 100% effective at protecting yourself, they do help stop you from spreading the disease if you have it.
Despite his endorsement of mask-wearing, Dr. Rubenstein said the city had decided to rely on personal responsibility at this time. The city is not prepared to mandate wearing a mask at the moment. However, he noted that city leaders were keeping a close eye on the situation and were in constant contact with public health officials.
Finally, the mayor pointed out some of the things the city has done to help cope with the pandemic. Saraland’s food distribution program has delivered over 60 tons of food to city residents. City personnel and volunteers have been providing support for senior citizens who have been isolated during the crisis.
The Surge Continues
Fortunately, the Saraland Covid-19 update featured low case numbers, but the state as a whole has been suffering. According to Worldometers, Alabama added another 1,958 cases in the past 24 hours. The US has been adding roughly 60,000 new cases a day for the past week. Deaths have also been creeping back up.
The US is not alone in its fight. Worldwide cases have jumped to over 200,000 a day in the past week. The Western Hemisphere is the region currently under the gun. The US and Brazil are the two hardest-hit nations in the region.
Americans now face the difficult choice of whether or not it’s safe to send their kids to school. Saraland has recently released their back-to-school plan, and it involves a remote learning option for students. Expect similar plans to sprout up across the country.
The battle against the coronavirus may be only just beginning. Only about 1% of the population has been infected so far, at least officially. On top of that, we still don’t know how long immunity to the disease will last. As scientists work diligently on a vaccine, there are still more questions than answers.