Alabama COVID-19 F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related to Alabama COVID-19 data tracked by Bama Tracker
Email your question Send a tweetWho made and runs this site?
My name is David Marconnet and I'm the CTO of OneTeam.net. I develop and maintain this site solely on my own as a side project in an attempt to help Alabama citizens and interested parties better understand the COVID-19 data coming from the AL Dept of Public Health (ADPH). I was born and raised near Huntsville, AL and I still live just outside of it with my wife and 4 kids. I'm a graduate of the University of AL in Huntsville class of 2006. Also, Roll Tide.
Where does Bama Tracker get its data from?
Data is collected from ADPH and is provided to the public strictly for educational and academic research purposes. You should not rely upon the content of this website as a basis for making any business or legal decisions.
Why do the number of daily cases vary slightly from the ADPH dashboard?
This system gathers data from the ADPH dashboard every few minutes all day. The daily counts stop at midnight, so the total change per day is calculated from the total at midnight to 11:59pm the next night. The ADPH numbers seem to vary sometimes daily by a few cases from what is shown here, possibly because they use a different window of time for their daily count, or they have corrected their numbers after the day completes.
Why do I see negative counts sometimes on daily change numbers?
So it seems like ADPH corrects case counts per county sometimes. One day they might add 10 to a county, and the next -2, meaning that they corrected the locations of the positive cases. This happens with test counts often as well.
If a person tests more than once, are they counted twice in case counts?
No, according to ADPH, if a person is tested more than once, they are still only counted as positive one time. Check out this tweet with more information.
What is a 'probable' case?
Probable cases & deaths are counted seperately by ADPH. Here is their definition: "Probable Cases are the total number of patients who are epidemiologically linked (have had close contact) with a confirmed case, have symptoms meeting clinical criteria of COVID-19, and have no confirmatory laboratory testing performed for COVID-19."
What does '14-day Cases & Tests' mean?
ADPH provides a count of the number of positive cases and tests reported in the last 14 days. This is at a state level and per county. However, these often do not completely match up the change in cumulative counts in a 14-day period. The reason for this has to do with the timeframe for the counts. They are based on a 14-day period that ends at midnight the day before the cumulative counts are updated on the dashboard. Basically, the cumulative totals stay ahead of the 14-day counts.
I need some data from your site, is that possible?
Yes, there is a public API you can use to get data in a number of ways. For more info check the API Documentation. Also, many charts have a menu in the right corner you can use to download the chart as an image or even the underlying data as a spreadsheet.
Bama Tracker on the News
Bama Tracker charts & data are featured on the news multiple times per week. The links below are specific interviews or articles that I participated in since the creation of the site.
BamaTracker working to simplify vaccine searchMarch 24, 2021 I did an interview with Eric Graves with WAFF about Bama Tracker. This interview was about the Vaccine Providers section of Bama Tracker.
What’s next for ‘BamaTracker’? Huntsville-based website creator speaks with News 19
March 17, 2021 I did an interview with Hunter Drinkard with WHNT about Bama Tracker. This interview was about the site, features, creation and goals of the site and other insights about working on the site for the past year.
One Year In, Bama Tracker Creator Considers Future Of COVID Data Site
March 11, 2021 I did an interview with Andrew Yeager with WBHM about Bama Tracker. This interview was about the site, features, creation and goals of the site and other insights about working on the site for the past year.
Bama Tracker compiles COVID-19 data for Alabama
March 5, 2021 I did an interview with Chris Divelbiss with The Auburn Plainsman about Bama Tracker. This interview was about the site, features, creation and goals of the site.
UAH alumnus David Marconnet creates COVID-19 Bama Tracker site
March 4, 2021 I did an interview with Russ Nelson with UAH about Bama Tracker. This interview was about the site, features, creation and goals of the site.
Alabama House of Representatives Resolution HR68
February 25, 2021 The Alabama House of Representatives approved and adopted a resolution honoring my work on this site. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, That we recognize and highly commend David Marconnet for creating Bama Tracker, and we hereby dedicate this resolution to him with warmest gratitude, admiration, and regard.
Data Hero Awards Nominee & Finalist
February 17, 2021 I did an interview with Rebekah Jones with Data Hero Awards about Bama Tracker. This interview was about the site, features, creation and goals of the site.
Bama Tracker keeps an eye on COVID
February 10, 2021 I did an interview with Katie Davis Skelley with Redstone Rocket about Bama Tracker. This interview was about the site, features, creation and goals of the site.
Bama Tracker displays custom COVID-19 tracking for the state
January 6, 2021 I did an interview with Kinsley Centers with WTVY News 4 about Bama Tracker. This interview was about the site, features, creation and goals of the site.
BamaTracker creator talks vaccines and future of the site
January 5, 2021 I did an interview with Eric Graves with WAFF 48 about Bama Tracker. This interview was about the Vaccine data tracking and the future of the site.
Vaccine data is latest addition in Bama Tracker’s evolution
January 4, 2021 I did an interview with Conan Gasque with CBS 42 about Bama Tracker. This interview focused on the addition of vaccine data and the evolution of the site.
BamaTracker adds vaccine dashboard with graphics
January 1, 2021 I did an interview with Cassie Fambro with WBRC FOX6 about Bama Tracker. This interview focused on the addition of vaccine data and the evolution of the site.
Bama Tracker’s David Marconnet keeps Alabama up to date on COVID – one chart at a time
December 23, 2020 I did an interview with Leada Gore with AL.com about Bama Tracker. I was included in a profile on 20 Alabamians that made a difference in 2020.
Who is BamaTracker? How an Alabama software engineer built a must-read COVID-19 tool
November 27, 2020 I did an interview with Melissa Brown with the Montgomery Advertiser about Bama Tracker. This interview focused on the site itself, the goals, how it was created and more.
Looking at COVID-19 trends with creator of the BamaTracker website
August 3, 2020 I did an interview with Eric Graves with WAFF 48 about Bama Tracker. This interview was more about the data and trends at the time.
WebTide Monthly Meetup: Effectively Communicating Statistics Online – A Discussion with Bamatracker.com Developer David Marconnet
September 15, 2020 I was invited to speak about Bama Tracker to the University of Alabama WebTide group. I talked about how the site worked and other geeky things related to it and COVID-19 data.
WAAY 31 Morning Show
July 20, 2020 I was a guest on the WAAY 31 Morning Show with Pat Simon and Marie Waxel. I spoke about current stats & trends I was seeing in the COVID-19 data.
Developer of bamatracker.com on a mission to make COVID-19 data relevant
July 13, 2020 I did an interview with Jenn Horton with WSFA 12 about Bama Tracker. This interview focused on the site itself, the goals, how it was created and more.
More than a thousand currently hospitalized in Alabama with COVID-19, most since outbreak began
July 7, 2020 I did an interview with Tyler Fingert with FOX 10 about Bama Tracker. This interview was more about the data and trends at the time.
WAAY 31 Morning Show
July 6, 2020 I was a guest on the WAAY 31 Morning Show with Pat Simon and Marie Waxel. I spoke about current stats & trends I was seeing in the COVID-19 data.
WAAY 31 Morning Show
June 9, 2020 I was a guest on the WAAY 31 Morning Show with Pat Simon and Marie Waxel. I spoke about current stats & trends I was seeing in the COVID-19 data.
Coronavirus in Alabama: The numbers that count
May 21, 2020 Bama Tracker was featured in an article on the Trussville Tribune about COVID-19 data. I was also invited to be on Tribune Unscripted with Erica Thomas
WAAY 31 Morning Show
May 18, 2020 I was a guest on the WAAY 31 Morning Show with Pat Simon and Marie Waxel. I spoke about current stats & trends I was seeing in the COVID-19 data.
Huntsville website creator making sense of COVID numbers
May 16, 2020 I did an interview with Margo Gray with WAFF 48 about Bama Tracker. This interview focused on the site itself, the goals, how it was created and more.
Behind BamaTracker: Man keeping tabs on COVID-19 numbers
May 13, 2020 I did an interview with Cassie Fambro with WBRC FOX6 about Bama Tracker. This interview focused on the site itself, the goals, how it was created and more.
Bama Tracker provides in-depth look at COVID-19 in Alabama
May 12, 2020 I did an interview with Conan Gasque with CBS 42 about Bama Tracker. This interview focused on the site itself, the goals, how it was created and more.