FOLEY - Nearly halfway through 2020, COVID-19 case numbers in Alabama continue to rise. While the majority of the state is experiencing major increases in numbers, Baldwin County remains fortunate, with only a mild increase as we enter into June.

“Alabama numbers do not look good,” said Foley Fire Chief Joey Darby on Monday, June 1. “Alabama has seen 1,197 new cases since Friday, May 29 to today, which is an alarming number. The good news is in Baldwin County we only had nine additional cases since Friday. That’s trending about steady where we’ve been.”

Darby said both Alabama and Baldwin were trending up looking at a 14-day period. Cases have increased more heavily in Mobile County, which saw 181 new cases over the weekend, bringing the total cases to date to over 2,000, and Escambia County, Florida, which hit 828 total cases to date.

“COVID is still around us, but there is good news hospital-wise,” Darby said. “There was no real uptick of cases in local hospitals over the weekend, and about two weeks ago we asked South Baldwin Regional that when they test a new positive number to record where those patients are from. Over the last few days, out of the additional positives that they’ve tested, they’ve only had a couple that were from out of state. That’s encouraging, because there’s obviously a fear factor when we estimate 6.5 million people a year come through that some of them might be bringing the virus to us. We haven’t seen that thus far, though it certainly is a concern.”

Darby says even more good news appears to be on the way, as rapid result testing is making its way to Baldwin County.

“That’s one of the components we need,” he said. “We need rapid result testing, a good treatment, and ultimately we need a vaccine. To me, those are the three biggies, and it looks like we’re going to have rapid result testing in our area in the near future.”