Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Managing Editor

With 101 more tests looked at by the Alabama Department of Public Health in Shelby County, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose by five in the last 24 hours.

Now at 283 confirmed cases, the county has now had six or fewer new cases in eight of the last 10 days. There have also been seven confirmed deaths in the county.

Since Tuesday, April 14, there have been 52 new cases with 782 tests looked at by the ADPH. That’s an average of 6.6 percent of those tested being positive.

With 2,369 tests now administered in the county and 217,702 residents, a total of 1.08 percent of the population has been tested, while 11.95 of those tested have been confirmed with a positive case of the novel coronavirus.

Shelby County has now seen a five case increase or less each of the last four days.

Statewide, the total number of COVID-19 cases is now up to 5,832 with 52,641 tests looked at by the ADPH. That means 1.07 percent of the state’s population has been tested, while 11.07 of those tested have tested positive.

There have now been 768 hospitalizations across the state since the first case on March 13, which is an increase of 37 in the last 24 hours. So far, 197 people have died from the virus statewide.

Mobile County has the most confirmed cases with 810 confirmed cases compared to 778 in Jefferson County. Lee County has the third highest total with 340.

In addition to that, Chambers, Montgomery, Tallapoosa, Marshall and Madison counties all have more than 200. Chambers is at 275 confirmed cases, while Montgomery is at 263, Marshall is at 258, Tallapoosa is at 254 and Madison is at 205.

Tuscaloosa (173), Baldwin (143) and Etowah (120) counties all have more than 100 cases.

So far, 907 health care workers have had confirmed cases since the onset, while 288 patients have been in the intensive care unit and 170 on ventilators.

There have also been 386 long-term care residents and 301 long-term care employees with a confirmed case.

A total of 57.51 percent of confirmed cases have been female, 72.03 percent have been between the ages of 19 and 64, and 46.64 percent have been white, while 37.95 percent have been black.

In the confirmed deaths, 77.2 percent have been older than 64, 62 percent have been male, 45.7 percent have been black and 50.3 percent have been white.

It had also been confirmed that 15 residents and seven employees at the Columbiana Health and Rehabilitation facility had tested positive for the virus last week, while nine residents and six employees at Select Rehab, Shelby Ridge in Alabaster have also tested positive.

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 was 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 and an employee at Montevallo City Hall.

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