Jefferson County, the most populous county in Alabama and the home of Birmingham, added 1,200 coronavirus cases so far in July, or 200 cases per day, by far the most among any Alabama county.

The Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed 189 new virus cases in the county on Monday as coronavirus hospitalizations in Birmingham and around the state hit all time highs.

After watching other, less populous counties take and hold the coronavirus spotlight early in the pandemic, Jefferson County has now become the undeniable epicenter for virus cases in Alabama.

Over recent weeks the county has added cases much faster than any other Alabama county has at any point during the pandemic so far.

The county has now seen 5,410 confirmed cases since March - about 1,250 more than the next closest county.

Coronavirus testing has increased slightly in Jefferson County, but not at the same rate as cases.