Alabama's confirmed coronavirus cases reached 501 Thursday afternoon, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

The cases have been reported in 48 of Alabama's 67 counties, with two deaths. Montgomery's case count rose to 17.

More:Second Alabama resident dies of coronavirus

The Health Department switched to a new mode of reporting cases, using a graphic that will be updated in real time. The Montgomery Advertiser typically will report new case numbers twice a day.

More:Are you a health care worker in Alabama? We want to hear your coronavirus experience

The coronavirus causes flu- and pneumonia-like illnesses in those young and relatively healthy, though some experts caution it is still more dangerous and intense than the average flu for many patients.

But it can be deadly, particularly in those older than 60 or with pre-existing health conditions, and young people may be transmitting the virus without even knowing it, says Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Hastings.

More:'Absolute unknown territory': Alabama hospitals brace for coronavirus onslaught lacking resources

Alabama doctors and hospital leadership this week told the Advertiser that Alabama is not equipped to handle a large influx of cases all at once. Social distancing and isolation measures must be followed, experts say, to "flatten the curve" or spread out the number of infections over a longer period of time. If widespread infections happen too quickly, Alabama will run out of hospital beds and medical equipment.

Alabama cases by county:

Autauga (6)

Baldwin (5)

Blount (2)

Bullock (2)

Butler (1)

Calhoun (2)

Chambers (9)

Cherokee (1)

Chilton (4)

Choctaw (1)

Clay (1)

Cleburne (1)

Colbert (1)

Coosa (1)

Crenshaw (1)

Cullman (6)

Dallas (3)

DeKalb (1)

Elmore (10)

Etowah (4)

Franklin (3)

Houston (3)

Jackson (3)

Jefferson (148)

Lamar (1)

Lauderdale (9)

Lawrence (3)

Lee (47)

Limestone (12)

Lowndes (1)

Madison (43)

Marengo (1)

Marion (7)

Marshall (3)

Mobile (18)

Montgomery (17)

Morgan (9)

Pickens (1)

Pike (2)

Russell (1)

St. Clair (7)

Shelby (52)

Talladega (4)

Tallapoosa (4)

Tuscaloosa (19)

Walker (18)

Washington (2)

Wilcox (1)