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By EMILY SPARACINO | Staff Writer and ALEC ETHEREDGE | Managing Editor

The afternoon of Wednesday, March 25, brought a big jump in confirmed cases across both Shelby County and the state of Alabama, while the first death was also confirmed in Jackson County by the Jackson County Commission.

Shelby County now has a total of 42 cases, which is six more than it had during the morning release from the Alabama Department of Public Health, while the state jumped more than 100 confirmed cases from 283 to 386 as of the afternoon of Wednesday, March 25.

It marks the largest jump for the state since the outbreak began on Friday, March 13, with the first confirmed case.

Shelby County is one of now 26 counties with multiple cases of COVID-19 and still has the second highest total of confirmed cases. Jefferson County makes up the bulk of the count with 129 confirmed cases, as their numbers continue to rise, while Lee County is now at 40 confirmed cases and Madison and Marshall both have 35 confirmed cases.

In addition to that, Autauga, Baldwin, Calhoun, Chambers, Cullman, Dallas, Elmore, Franklin, Houston, Jackson, Lauderdale, Limestone, Marion, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties all have multiple confirmed cases.

Other counties listed as having one confirmed case of COVID-19 include Blount, Butler, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Lamar, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Washington and Wilcox.

This latest update came at 5 p.m. and featured 39 of Alabama’s 67 counties with at least one confirmed case.

It also comes the week after positive tests came 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 now being done by appointment at UAB 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.

UAB is encouraging you to call 205-975-1881 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. to describe your symptoms. They will then determine whether you present what could be COVID-19 symptoms, in which case they’ll set an appointment for you to get tested the next day.

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.