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BREAKING NEWS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. SHERI: ANOTHER CORONAVIRUS KEYS CONFIRMED IN ALABAMA. THE MOST RECENT IN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY. THERE ARE SIX CASES IN THE STATE. THE FIRST CONFIRMED EARLY THIS MORNING OUT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. GUY: NOT LONG AFTER THAT, WE LEARNED OF ANOTHER CASE CLOSE TO HOME IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. THE OTHER CASES ARE COMING FROM LIMESTONE COUNTY. AIR IS ANOTHER ONE LISTED AS OUT-OF-TOWN. IN LIGHT OF THESE NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES, THE GOVERNOR IS TAKING ACTION. SHERI: WVTM 13’S CHIP SCARBOROUGH REPORTS FROM THE STATE CAPITAL. CHIP GOVERNOR KAY IVEY IS TAKING ALABAMA’S FIGHT AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS TO THE NEXT LEVEL. >> I AM ISSUING A STATE OF EMERGENCY. CHIP: AND A BIG COMPANY OF HER STATE OF EMERGENCY IS CLOSING ALL SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE OF ALABAMA AT THE END OF NEXT WEDNESDAY. THEY WILL REMAIN CLOSED FOR AT LEAST TWO AND A HALF WEEKS. >> LET US TAKE A CALM APPROACH. CHIP: THE STATE CONFIRMED ITS FIRST CASE FRIDAY MORNING IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE. THE SECOND CONFIRMED CASE HOURS LATER IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. SOMEONE WHO HAD TRAVELED OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND PICKED UP THE VIRUS. >> THIS IS A FAST-MOVING SITUATION. WE ARE NOT SURPRISED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CASES. CHIP: AND WITH MORE CASES COMING, HEALTH OFFICIALS WANT EVERYONE TO FOLLOW A FEW SIMPLE RULES INCLUDING AVOIDING LARGER EVENTS. STANDING AT LEAST SIX FEET AWAY FROM PEOPLE IN PUBLIC. AND AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE. WE HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OTHERS. GUY: IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, HELP LEADERS SAY THEY WERE EXPECTING A CASE OF THE CORONAVIRUS TO POP UP. SHERI: THEY ARE TAKING NECESSARY STEPS WHILE ASKING PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR HEALTH INTO THEIR OWN HANDS. >> THIS COMES AS NO SURPRISE TO US. WE EXPECTED THERE TO BE CASES POPPING UP IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE WILL NOT BE SURPRISED WITH MORE CASES. WE CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN TERMS OF EVERYONE TAKING PRECAUTIONS. WE WANT EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT COME OF THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL. SHERI: THE TUSCALOOSA MAYOR SAYS THE CITY HAS BEEN PREPARING FOR THE VIRUS. HE EXPRESSED VALID CONCERNS ABOUT THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES SAYING HIS OFFICE HAS NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH A PANDEMIC BUT HE ASSURED PEOPLE IN THIS CITY THAT HE AND OTHER LEADERS ARE STAYING ON TOP OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS. THE BIRMINGHAM MAYOR ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE COVID-19 CONFIRMATION. WITH OTHER CITY LEADERS STANDING BEHIND HIM, HE TALKED ABOUT PREVENTION AND A PLAN TO HELP BUSINESSES STAY AFLOAT. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO RETREAT. IT IS INCUMBENT FOR OUR MEAL BANK, THE RED CROSS AND OTHER NONPROFITS IF THEY COULD CONTINUE THEIR WORK IN SERVING THE COMMUNITY. SHERI: THE MAYOR SAYS THEY’RE WORKING TO CREATE A CIVIC RESILIENCE FUND. GUY: WE ARE SEEING SPRING BREAKS EXTENDED BOTH ALABAMA AND UAB EXTENDING SPRING BREAK THROUGH MARCH 24. SEVERAL COLLEGES ARE MOVING THEIR CLASSES ONLINE INCLUDING AUBURN AND T

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Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Friday confirmed the first presumptive case of coronavirus in the state.The Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery released a statement on its website stating a civilian employee who recently traveled to Illinois is the first confirmed Coronavirus case in the state. "The individual is being evaluated and treated by health care professionals. The continued safety of our community is of upmost importance. We are working with our base medical staff and other off base health care agencies to ensure we mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in accordance with established CDC and DOD guidelines," said Col. Patrick Carley, 42nd Air Base Wing commander. The base remains in Health Protection Condition Alpha.Alabama was one of the last states to report a case. As of 8:15 p.m. Friday, there were six confirmed cases in the state.The governor urged people to remain calm and take common sense precautions in the following statement: “Along with my fellow Alabamians, I have closely monitored the rapidly changing events regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As a state, we have taken precautionary measures and made preparations in the case that the virus would eventually reach our state. As I have emphasized time and again, the safety and health of Alabamians is paramount. “Alabamians are smart and savvy, and I know they will continue taking appropriate precautions to prevent the spread to themselves or others. We have taken a calm and collected approach in preparation for this first confirmed case, and we need to remember that calm and steady wins the race. Alabamians should not be fearful, but instead, use commonsense to watch out for themselves and others. We will remain engaged on the matter and continue prioritizing the health and wellbeing of all Alabamians.“I am grateful to the work of State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, as well as the members of my Coronavirus Task Force and countless individuals who are also watching and working on this situation closely.”STATEMENT FROM DR. SCOTT HARRIS"The Alabama Department of Public Health has worked hard to prepare and has anticipated receiving a report of the first case of COVID-19 in an Alabama resident. We continue to recommend that people be prudent and encourage them to use proper hygiene behaviors such as handwashing, not touching their faces with unwashed hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home if they have fever. As a precaution, it is suggested that any gatherings of more than 500 people be postponed or canceled."Download the WVTM 13 app for updates on this developing story. Share your reaction to the first case of COVID-19 on Facebook here.Go to www.wvtm13.com/coronavirus for the latest coronavirus news and stories.