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By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Managing Editor

The night before Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to make an announcement in relation to the stay-at-home order in place until this Thursday, April 30, as well as release information on how reopening Alabama will look, the state surpassed 6,500 confirmed cases of COVID-19, while the county’s count is now at 318.

That was an increase of just seven cases for Shelby County in the last 24 hours, while the state’s numbers rose from 6,418 to 6,539.

There have now been 3,301 tests administered in Shelby County alone, while the state has seen 74,162 tests.

There have also been nine deaths in the county according to the Alabama Department of Public Health, while the state’s death count sits at 228, which is nine more in the last 24 hours.

There have now been 888 hospitalizations across the state since the first case on March 13, which is an increase of 43 in the last three days.

Mobile County has the most confirmed cases with 942 confirmed cases compared to 839 in Jefferson County. Lee County has the third highest total with 368, while Marshall County is now at 310.

In addition to that, Montgomery, Chambers, Tallapoosa and Madison counties all have more than 200. Montgomery is at 292 confirmed cases, while Chambers is at 289, Tallapoosa is at 275 and Madison is at 214.

Tuscaloosa (195), Baldwin (168) and Etowah (126) counties all have more than 100 cases.

So far, 908 health care workers have had confirmed cases since the onset, while 335 patients have been in the intensive care unit and 195 on ventilators.

There have also been 539 long-term care residents and 370 long-term care employees with a confirmed case.

A total of 57.47 percent of confirmed cases have been female, 71.56 percent have been between the ages of 19 and 64, and 46.15 percent have been white, while 37.67 percent have been black.

In the confirmed deaths, 78 percent have been older than 64, 58.2 percent have been male, 45.7 percent have been black and 50 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 two weeks ago, 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