Alabama COVID-19 cases jump to 51 Wednesday afternoon

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - The Alabama Department of Public Health is updating the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the state. It was at 46 Wednesday morning. By the afternoon, it had risen to 51.

These are the numbers by county:

Baldwin- 1 (unchanged)
Calhoun- 1 (unchanged)
Elmore- 4 (up by 2)
Lee- 8 (up by 1)
Jefferson- 25 (up by 2)
Limestone- 1 (unchanged)
Madison- 1 (unchanged)
Montgomery- 2 (unchanged)
Shelby- 4 (unchanged)
St. Clair- 1 (unchanged)
Tuscaloosa- 3 (unchanged)

Total: 51

Total deaths: 0

There are three main points hospitals and healthcare providers want all of us to know:

If you think you have symptoms of the novel coronavirus, call your doctor first. Do not go to the doctor’s office unless you need immediate care. You do not want to expose others to your illness and if you are well, you do not want to be exposed to someone else. Stay home unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Do not go to the emergency room unless you require critical, immediate care. Emergency rooms need to serve those with the most critical needs. Do not go to the emergency room for COVID-19 testing.
There is a national blood shortage. If you are healthy and eligible, donate blood as soon as possible. Contact the Red Cross to find out where to donate and how to schedule an appointment.

You can also contact the Alabama Department of Public Health COVID-19 hotline to find out about testing locations and options. That number is 1-888-264-2256.

Baptist Health opened a testing site in Montgomery Monday. On Tuesday, there were 863 phone screenings, 122 drive-up screenings and 26 labs done. The site is available only to those who are experiencing symptoms of the illness and who call 334-747-0150 to make an appointment first.

Alabama’s primary election runoff, which was scheduled for March 31, has been postponed to July 14, Gov. Kay Ivey announced.

During a news conference Wednesday, Ivey said the decision to move the election did not come lightly.

“The ability to hold free and fair elections is an inherent right as citizens of the United States and the great state of Alabama, but the safety and wellbeing of Alabama citizens is paramount," Ivey added.

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