Risk indicator

State risk map determining factors

On sleeping medication.

This morning ... we want to turn our attention to the coronavirus in north alabama.

You're taking a live look at the alabama department of public health's risk indicator map.

You can see madison county is back in the red meaning "very high risk" this morning.

Waay31s sierra phillips is live at the madison county health deparment.

Sierra, why did the county make that change?

This morning we know long term facilties put madison county back in red for very high risk.

But-- doctor karen landers told waay31 that label change isn't a huge cause of concern just yet-- because many of the cases counted are isolated.

Take a look at the different sets of data that map is made of.

Numbers of cases increasing, number of people seeking medical attention.... and the department wants to see point eight percent of a county's population being tested each week.

We asked if nursing homes are skewing the data.

Dr. karen landers, alabama department of public health "it's just like including a corrections facility that's a closed population.

I do think you have to include that data because persons who work in those entities are also out in the community, so i think you have to include that data."

Right now the state ia working with doctors offices to make sure all tests are reported.

That's not just positive test results-- because if the percentage of positive cases are higher- it will also skew the risk indicator map.

Reporting live in madison county sierra phillips waay31 news