MONTGOMERY-On Friday, March 13 Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has officially issued a state of emergency due to the spread of the coronavirus. The state of emergency will free up state resources to respond to the crisis.
During a joint press conference with the Alabama State Department of Education Department and the Alabama Department of Public Health, officials announced that starting Wednesday, all public K-12 schools in Alabama will have a 2.5-week break to reduce the risk of the spread of the coronavirus.
The tentative plan is to have schools back open by April 6. For more details from the Alabama State Department of Education visit their website.
The Alabama Department of Public Health: There are now 6 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Alabama. The cases have been confirmed out of the following counties:
Elmore
Jefferson
Limestone
Montgomery
Tuscaloosa
There are 28 total unique patients tested, and 74 people approved for testing.
The Alabama Department of Health confirmed the first patient at a Friday morning news conference.
That patient is a civilian employee who works at Maxwell Air Force Base. In a news release, the base said this person had returned home from traveling to Illinois and reported not feeling well upon return.
Off-base medical agencies are monitoring and treating the individual.
“The civilian employee is the first confirmed case in the state of Alabama,” said Col. Patrick Carley, 42nd Air Base Wing commander. “The individual is being evaluated and treated by health care professionals. The continued safety of our community is of upmost importance. We are working with our base medical staff and other off base health care agencies to ensure we mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in accordance with established CDC and DOD guidelines.”
Information concerning COVID-19 can be found from the Alabama State Department of Public Health, visit the ADPH website.
