Alabama health officials on Sunday evening confirmed 22 COVID-19 patients had been identified in the state, two days after the state's first confirmed COVID-19 case was found in Montgomery County.

The number, updated at about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, is expected to grow in the coming days.

As of Sunday evening, cases were diagnosed in the following counties:

Baldwin - 1

Elmore - 1

Lee - 1

Jefferson - 12

Limestone - 1

Montgomery - 1

Shelby - 2

Tuscaloosa -3

More:Where is the coronavirus? Interactive maps track COVID-19 cases across Alabama and beyond

What is the coronavirus risk, and why is everything shutting down?

Public health and civic leaders across the country are issuing increasingly urgent recommendations for Americans to disrupt their daily routines wherever possible — avoiding school, working from home, limiting outings to shops and restaurants — in an attempt to slow the spread of the respiratory illness.

The coronavirus COVID-19 causes mild to moderate flu- and pneumonia-like illnesses in those young and relatively healthy, though some experts caution it is still more intense than the average cold or flu for many patients.

But it can be deadly, particularly in those older than 60 or with pre-existing health conditions.

There are also rising concerns about how equipped American hospitals are to handle large influxes of cases, as currently seen in Italy. Extreme cases that require ongoing medical treatment often require ventilators, which hospitals have a limited supply of.

The Washington Post reports hospitals in northern Italy, forced to prioritize younger patients with higher survival chances, have begun rationing ventilators and other medical equipment.

On Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the U.S. should be prepared to "to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing."

Fauci said experts expect the worse is yet to come, and individuals must take "aggressive" action to slow the spread.

A data analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that Alabama ranks among the top six most at-risk states for its adult population. The analysis examined state-level health data to determine the percentage of "high risk" adults, which include all adults over the age of 60, as well as young adults with heart disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or diabetes.

The data show more than 45 percent of Alabama adults fall under those categories and are at higher risk of developing serious illness if infected with coronavirus.

Experts agree that increased isolation and shuttering of everyday public life, if implemented early enough, can help "flatten the curve," or spread the number of new cases out over a longer period of time. If cases spike too quickly in a short period, American hospitals may become overwhelmed.

More:A self-quarantine seems brutal when you're not sick with coronavirus – but it really is for the greater good

Asked if he would prefer something like a 14-day national shutdown, Fauci told NBC: "I think we should really be overly aggressive and get criticized for overreacting," Fauci said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Experts like Fauci are also encouraging Americans to think long-term: The coronavirus pandemic is not expected to slow in just a few days or weeks.

On Sunday night, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention announced new guidelines, recommending cancelling all event of 50 or more people for the next 8 weeks.

The CDC had already recommended cancelling events of 10 or more people if high-risk populations, such as older or immunocompromised people, to cut down on community transmissions of the disease.

State employees can telework, Gov. Ivey says

Gov. Kay Ivey on Sunday announced she plans to direct state employees to work from home if possible for at least three weeks amid Alabama's increasing COVID-19 outbreak.

Ivey on Twitter announced the move, saying she will authorize "agency directors to implement telework, flexible work schedules and practice social distancing."

"Departments providing public safety, direct care, and other essential services must plan and schedule their activities accordingly, with the directors of [departments] determining the staffing to ensure the continued operation of essential and emergency services," Ivey said.

What does coronavirus do to your body?:Everything to know about the infection process

"Employees should plan to return to regular work schedules on Monday, April 6. For more information, please contact your immediate supervisor or department head. While out of the office, please continue the practice of sound hygiene and social distancing."

Public schools are slated to close after Wednesday, though districts across the state accelerated closure plans on Sunday. Public officials are currently working through plans to feed children who may regularly rely on school lunchrooms.

Alabama internet providers offer free internet amid school closures

Some of the state’s cable providers are rolling out free broadband services and upgrades starting Monday as Alabama’s public schools prepare to close for at least two weeks and colleges convert to online instruction during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Charter Spectrum, the state’s largest provider, will offer free broadband and WiFi to households with K-12 or college students who don’t already have a broadband subscription at any service level up to 100 Mbps. They’re waving installation fees.

You can call 1-844-488-8395 to enroll.

It’s also opening its WiFi hotspots across its Alabama service areas for public use.

Comcast is pausing all data plans for 60 days and giving all customers unlimited data, and it’s promising not to disconnect service or assess a late fee if someone contacts the company to let them know they can’t pay their bills over that time. It’s also offering free service through its WiFi hotspots across Alabama.

East Alabama provider Beam is offering free 50 Mbps service for 30 days to new customers with K-12 or college students, along with free installation. You can call Beam for more details.

Alabama provider AT&T previously announced that it planned to waive internet overage fees, waive late fees and suspend termination of service during the pandemic. It's asking people who have trouble paying to call 1-800-288-2020.

More:Alabama internet providers offer free service to students' homes after coronavirus epidemic

Autauga County, others accelerate school closures

Though all Alabama public schools are set to close their doors beginning Thursday, Autauga County schools announced Sunday they will close immediately as COVID-19 cases begin to multiply across the state.

Autauga Superintendent Spence Agee confirmed the closures Sunday. Agee said 10-, 11- and 12-month employees are being asked to report to work to develop a feeding plan for students.

More:Some River Region schools accelerate school closures amid coronavirus outbreak

State officials on Friday said they were working on plans to feed children who may rely on their school lunchroom for regular meals.

More:Alabama to close K-12 schools amid coronavirus outbreak; 6 cases now in state

Under federal law, schools are required to serve meals in a group setting, such as a lunchroom. But during a public health emergency, like the one declared by Ivey on Friday, the USDA can waive this law.

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt said in a social media statement Sunday Alabama had been granted a waiver through June.

Elmore County Superintendent Richard Dennis said their schools are still scheduled to close after instruction on Wednesday.

However, any students who do not attend Monday-Wednesday will be granted excused absences.

More:Some River Region schools accelerate school closures amid coronavirus outbreak