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A City of Troy employee is the second confirmed case of COVID-19 coronavirus in Pike County.

“We have had our second confirmed case in Pike County,” said Troy Mayor Jason Reeves. “ This individual is an employee of the City of Troy who has very limited contact with the public. They have been home for over a week and are feeling better.

“It is vital we practice social distancing and all ADPH and CDC guidelines on hygiene and hand washing. The ADPH will notify anyone who could have been exposed to the virus by direct contact. The individual will remained quarantined according to ADPH standards and the City will continue to do all we can to protect our employees and keep the public as informed as possible. “

The second case comes less than 24 hours after the first case was confirmed and after Troy University notified the public that both a student and a faculty member have been confirmed to have the virus. Neither the student or faculty member resides in Pike County.

The first case reported on Wednesday is an individual not believed to be in the workforce and not in a health care facility. University officials plan a press conference at 10:30 a.m. today to discuss the cases among faculty and students.

As of 10 a.m. Thursday, the Alabama Department of Public Health reported 449 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, including one death. Lowndes, Coffee and Butler counties all reported their first cases as well.

 

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed the Jackson County resident died from the COVID-19 disease. The governor said she extends, “my prayers and deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones during these extraordinary circumstances.”

“I continue to urge everyone that this virus is real, it is deadly, and we should continue to maintain social-distancing as much as possible. Together, we will overcome these challenges and difficult days,” Ivey said.

The patient had underlying health problems and passed away in a facility outside the state of Alabama, the Health Department said. The Jackson County Commission said the person was a part-time employee at the county courthouse, and they are having the area cleaned before employees return to work.

Hospitals and public health officials in the state continue to issue calls for people to take the virus seriously.

Officials at the University of Alabama at Birmingham said UAB hospital on Wednesday morning was treating at least 90 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than half of them were on ventilators.

“We have experienced an exponential increase in the number of patients in the last few days,” said Dr. Sarah Nafziger, co-chair of the hospital’s emergency management committee. “This is a dangerous situation that our community needs to take seriously.”

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

Birmingham on Tuesday approved a “shelter in place” ordinance through April 3, directing people to stay inside unless going out for food, medicine, exercise or essential services. The city of Tuscaloosa said it would institute a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew beginning Friday.

Alabama’s statewide orders include closing beaches and prohibiting on-site restaurant dining and non-work gatherings of more than 25 people where people can’t stay 6 feet (2 meters) apart. The state has also closed public schools through April 5.