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By EMILY SPARACINO | Staff Writer

Nine cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) have now been confirmed in Shelby County.

Shelby County’s nine cases are among 78 total confirmed cases of the virus in Alabama as of the afternoon of Thursday, March 19, according to an up-to-date list published on the Alabama Department of Public Health’s website.

Shelby County is one of now seven counties with multiple cases of COVID-19, as Jefferson County makes up the bulk of the count with 34 cases, while Lee County has 10, Elmore County has five, Madison County has five, Tuscaloosa County has four and Montgomery County has three.

Other counties listed as having one confirmed case of COVID-19 include Baldwin, Calhoun, Chambers, Limestone, St. Clair, Talladega and Walker.

This latest update came at 4:10 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, which brought the total number of cases up from 51 the previous afternoon to 78, while Shelby County’s nine is one more than it had in the morning release earlier that day and is the third highest total in the state. It also comes after positive tests have come out of three Shelby County schools featuring students that have come in contact with people at Oak Mountain Intermediate and Elementary schools, Helena High and Middle schools and Calera High and Middle schools.

Testing for COVID-19 is being performed at the Church of the Highlands Grants Mill location as well as Total Care 280 in the North Shelby area off U.S. 280. You are urged to get tested only if you present symptoms of a fever or cough, or have been in contact with somebody who has the virus.

If you think you have been exposed or have symptoms, please isolate and call your doctor or nearest medical facility for guidance or call the Alabama Department of Public Health hotline at 1-888-264-2256.

More information on the testing site is available at Churchofthehighlands.com/coronavirus.

For more information about COVID-19, visit Alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/2019-coronavirus.