Coronavirus: Alabama state virus numbers increase overnight. Here’s what we know.
Published 10:19 am Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Alabama Public Health officials announced updated numbers of positive cases of COVID-19 coronavirus Tuesday morning. The state announced the total cases rose overnight to 36 cases.
Of those, the state reported 20 cases are in Jefferson County in the Birmingham area.
No deaths have been reported in the state related to the coronavirus.
Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said the state is considering statewide measures to stop spread, but encouraged Alabama residents to simply use common sense ahead of state mandates.
“We have spent a lot of time in discussion and debating about how we balance the health orders that restrict peoples abilities to get out and participate in their normal activities of life but also try to keep people safe by enforcing this social distancing that will help us prevent of the spread of the epidemic,” Harris said. “It’s time for Alabamaians to hunker down and stay away from other people.”
Harris said the length of time the virus will impact Alabama and the nation is unknown.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said Tuesday morning that the state has expanded a ban on restaurants and bars from serving food and drinks to patrons on their premises. The order now includes: Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Blount, St. Clair and Shelby counties.
In addition to the restrictions on bars and restaurants, the state is mandating all gatherings of 25 or more are prohibited.
Beginning Wednesday, all senior citizen center gatherings in those counties are closed along with private schools, preschools and childcare centers with 12 or more children, Harris said. The mandate will be into effect until at least April 6, he said. The order may be extended.
Here’s a county by county breakdown of where cases have been located.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in AlabamaUpdated: March 17, 2020 10:15 a.m. (CT) |
||
County of Residence |
Cases |
|
Baldwin | 1 | |
Elmore | 2 | |
Lee | 1 | |
Jefferson | 20 | |
Limestone | 1 | |
Madison | 1 | |
Montgomery | 2 | |
Shelby | 4 | |
St. Clair | 1 | |
Tuscaloosa | 3 | |
Total | 36 |