The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) announced Friday morning that an Alabamian has a confirmed case of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The individual is a resident of Montgomery County who recently traveled out of state, per ADPH.
Governor Kay Ivey also confirmed the case in a statement:
Along with my fellow Alabamians, I have closely monitored the rapidly changing events regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As a state, we have taken precautionary measures and made preparations in the case that the virus would eventually reach our state. As I have emphasized time and again, the safety and health of Alabamians is paramount.
Alabamians are smart and savvy, and I know they will continue taking appropriate precautions to prevent the spread to themselves or others. We have taken a calm and collected approach in preparation for this first confirmed case, and we need to remember that calm and steady wins the race. Alabamians should not be fearful, but instead, use commonsense to watch out for themselves and others. We will remain engaged on the matter and continue prioritizing the health and wellbeing of all Alabamians.
I am grateful to the work of State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, as well as the members of my Coronavirus Task Force and countless individuals who are also watching and working on this situation closely.
State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris stated, “The Alabama Department of Public Health has worked hard to prepare and has anticipated receiving a report of the first case of COVID-19 in an Alabama resident. We continue to recommend that people be prudent and encourage them to use proper hygiene behaviors such as handwashing, not touching their faces with unwashed hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home if they have fever. As a precaution, it is suggested that any gatherings of more than 500 people be postponed or canceled.”
The Alabama Department of Public Health is holding a press conference Friday at 10:00 a.m. CT.
This draft will be updated as more information becomes available.
UPDATE 11:00 a.m. CT
The Alabama Department of Public Health is not releasing any identifiable information about the patient.
Alabamians will not, for now, know the age and gender or how severe the case is.
The sample that tested positive was analyzed at the State lab in Montgomery.
The turnaround time for the patient to get their results was less than 24 hours, per Harris.
“We had expected to find a case for some time,” he added.
Stay up-to-date on the coronavirus via the Alabama Department of Health here and find related resources from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) here.
For the latest on general COVID-19 developments, visit the CDC’s website.
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Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
