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Updated 10:45 a.m.

Pike County reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 coronavirus on Wednesday.

The Pike County patient has not been identified and no further information about his or her health status has been released, per Alabama Department of Public Health guidelines.

As of 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, ADPH reported 283 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, with 2,812 tests completed and zero deaths.

“As I’ve said before we want to keep the public apprised of the situation,” said Troy Mayor Jason Reeves. “It’s our belief that this is not a person who is active in the workforce or in a health care facility.”

Reeves said local officials continue to urge the community to be safe and cautious.

“As we’ve been saying all along this is a serious situation,” he said. “We need to continue to be very careful in what we do and how we do it.”

Most patients with COVID-19 infection have mild respiratory illness along with fever, cough and shortness of breath. Some have more severe symptoms that require hospitalization. Health officials urge anyone experiencing symptoms to first notify their healthcare provider so that proper precautions can be taken. This will help protect others from exposure to COVID-19 and other viruses.

 

Social distancing is the most important recommendation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It is recommended that any gatherings that cannot maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons be postponed or canceled. As with other respiratory illnesses, it is important that everyone continue to take steps to protect themselves and others by minimizing their risks. This includes practicing good hand hygiene, avoiding close contact with sick persons, staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

 

Persons who are 65 years and older and those with health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and other conditions that can weaken the immune system should limit their interactions with others since they are most at risk.

 

Anyone with cough, fever, shortness of breath or other symptoms can call the Troy Regional Medical Center COVID-19 hotline to speak with medical professionals: 334-670-5409.

 

ADPH is committed to sharing up-to-date information and will maintain patient privacy when announcing confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama residents as follows:

 

• COVID-19 General Information – 800-270-7268

Telephone calls are answered from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily, and a language line is available for people who do not speak English.

 

• The COVID-19 General Information E-mail address – covid19info@adph.state.al.us

 

In addition, a toll-free phone line provides information about available testing sites and hours of operation statewide at 888-264-2256.

 

More information is available by clicking “Coronavirus” on the home page of alabamapublichealth.gov/ and at the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html