Earlier today, the Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed its first case of COVID-19 in a resident of Covington County.

 

Covington County Emergency Management Director Susan Harris said protocols are in place to make sure that those who have been in contact with the patient are contacted.

 

“Once a positive test is confirmed, the agency has four hours to provide that information to the Alabama Department of Public Health,” she said. “The person will be ordered to quarantine. The ADPH investigative team then makes contact with the patient to determine who he or she has been in contact with. Those people will be notified and advised to self-quarantine.”

 

The news came just after Gov. Kay Ivey extended her order closing additional non-essential businesses, effective at 5 p.m. Saturday, like entertainment venues, athletic facilities and activities, “close-contact” service establishments, and non-essential retail stores closed until April 17.

 

Mayor Earl Johnson encouraged local residents to remain calm and follow the precautions issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

 

“We now better understand their recommendations for social distancing,” Mayor Johnson said. “The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

 

“Secondly, wash your hands often, especially after you have been in a public place,” he said. “Continue to put distance between yourselves and other people, and avoid close contact with people who are sick.” 

Johnson acknowledged that the uncertainness of these times is stressful.

 

“We know that people are worried about themselves, their families, and their livelihoods, and we are, too,” he said. “But we also know that we are a community that cares for each other. The most important thing we can do to care for each other right now is to help stop the spread by social distancing, and by cleaning and sanitizing. We will be about the business of lifting each other up when we get to the other side of this.

 

“We will continue to make information available as it becomes available to us,” the mayor said.