A college campus has opened a section of its dorms to front-line health care workers in Montgomery who are worried about going home and spreading germs to family members.

Baptist Health and Auburn University at Montgomery has set up 48 rooms on campus at no cost for a group it’s calling “health care heroes.” Baptist has a hospital and a drive-through COVID-19 testing site near the campus.

About 16% of all confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Alabama were among healthcare workers, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

The rooms in Lilac Hall in AUM’s housing complex have private bathrooms and kitchens, WiFi, cable, and laundry. Baptist is handling all of the cleaning services for the rooms, and other businesses have stepped forward to provide amenities.

Lowe’s donated over $3,000 worth of items, including microwaves, lamps, pillows and other décor. Walmart and a local plumbing company donated televisions and bedding.

AUM usually has 1,200 on-campus residents, but most left March 12 when the school moved to remote course work. About 250 students remain on campus, and none in Lilac Hall.

One Baptist worker who is now staying on campus had been paying for a hotel room each night to avoid going home.

"They're out on the front lines. They're taking care of all the sick patients, those with COVID-19 and those without," said Jean Leuner, dean of the school's College of Nursing and Health Sciences. "It certainly stresses the health care workers and the system tremendously.

"This has come together within a week and a half. ... It's truly a community effort."

Leuner wiped away tears as a small gathering of officials announced the partnership Friday morning during an outdoor news conference on campus.

"We're all on the same team, and we're all in the same battle," Prattville Lowe's store manager Craig Hill told the group. "The only way we win this battle against COVID-19 is together."

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Brad Harper at bharper1@gannett.com.