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By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Managing Editor

Between Thursday night, April 9, and Sunday night, April 12, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Shelby County rose by 30 to surpass 200 confirmed cases.

Now at 213 cases, Shelby County has the fourth most cases by county in the state. But having been the second highest county for the majority of the first month of the virus, the outbreak hasn’t been as drastic in the last week in the county.

Jefferson remains the highest at 597 confirmed cases, while Mobile and Lee counties have passed Shelby County with drastic turns in the last week. Mobile now has 454 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, while Lee is up to 236.

In addition to that, Chambers is at 200 confirmed cases, while Madison (187), Montgomery (120) and Tuscaloosa (119) counties all have more than 100 cases. Marshall County and Tallapoosa County each have 99.

In the last week, the confirmed-case count in Shelby County has risen by 68, but there have been no more confirmed deaths with the count still sitting at five according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Statewide, however, the number of confirmed cases has risen from 1,841 to 3,583 since last Sunday and from 31 t0 61 confirmed deaths. There are also another 32 reported deaths still waiting to be confirmed by the ADPH.

Since last Thursday, the number of confirmed cases in the state has gone up by 745 with 20,605 tests now administered. There have now also been 437 hospitalizations across the state since the virus began on March 13.

In addition to those numbers, 551 health care workers have had confirmed cases since the onset, while 189 patients have been in the intensive care unit and 119 on ventilators. There have also been 154 long-term care employees and 153 long-term care residents with a confirmed case.

So far, 56.52 percent of confirmed cases have been female, 73.07 percent have been between the ages of 19 and 64, and 46.25 percent have been white, while 35.72 have been black.

Since the outbreak started, positive cases have been confirmed featuring four local schools including two at Thompson High School, one at either Oak Mountain Intermediate or Elementary School, one at Helena High School and one at Calera High School. Both Helena and Calera students also possibly had contact with someone at the middle school.

It has also been confirmed that an employee at the Alabaster Chick-fil-A tested positive as did Montevallo pastor Ray Dunmyer of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church.

The Alabaster Chick-fil-A has since reopened for takeout and drive-thru services after a thorough cleaning.

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, It’s About Time Urgent Care in Helena and Columbiana Clinic in Columbiana. You are urged to get tested only if you present symptoms of a fever, cough or shortness of breath, 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.

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

To view an updated dashboard of confirmed cases and see testing sites, visit Alpublichealth.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/6d2771faa9da4a2786a509d82c8cf0f7