1st Coronavirus Death Confirmed In Alabama

JACKSON COUNTY, AL — The first death from the new coronavirus was confirmed in Alabama on Wednesday. An employee for the Jackson County Commission died from the disease, the commission said in a statement.

The patient was not identified by name but the statement from the commission said the deceased was a part-time employee with the county.

"The employee worked in a department at the Jackson County Courthouse that did not require regular contact with the public," the statement said. "All county employees who worked in the same department have been notified and none of them have reported any symptoms associated with the COVID-19 virus."

The Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed the death Wednesday night.

"We express our deepest sympathy to the family and loved ones of the patient who died, as well as to the families of everyone who has been affected by this outbreak,"said state health officer Dr. Scott Harris. "The health of our residents and the community is our greatest priority, and we will continue working together to care for the patients, protect the safety of health care workers, and protect the people in our state."

Tim Guffey, chairman of the Jackson County Commission, said the area where the employee worked will be thoroughly sanitized, as will the entire courthouse, by the time the courthouse is scheduled to re-open April 6.

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As of Wednesday afternoon, 385 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Alabama. Jackson County had just two of those cases.

The number of cases per county in Alabama is as follows:

• Autauga (4)
• Baldwin (4)
• Blount (1)
• Butler (1)
• Calhoun (2)
• Chambers (10)
• Cherokee (1)
• Chilton (1)
• Clay (1)
• Cleburne (1)
• Colbert (1)
• Cullman (4)
• Dallas (2)
• Elmore (9)
• Etowah (3)
• Franklin (2)
• Houston (2)
• Jackson (2)
• Jefferson (129)
• Lamar (1)
• Lauderdale (7)
• Lawrence (1)
• Lee (40)
• Limestone (6)
• Madison (35)
• Marion (3)
• Marshall (1)
• Mobile (10)
• Montgomery (13)
• Morgan (5)
• Pickens (1)
• Pike (1)
• Russell (1)
• St. Clair (6)
• Shelby (42)
• Talladega (3)
• Tallapoosa (4)
• Tuscaloosa (15)
• Walker (9)
• Washington (1)
• Wilcox (1)

SEE ALSO:

Coronavirus Patient Numbers Increasing Daily At UAB

Coronavirus Shelter-In-Place Order In Birmingham: What It Means

Coronavirus In Shelby County: License Offices Closing