The Alabama Department of Public Health now says the State has 242 (updated) confirmed cases of Coronavirus. Most are in Jefferson, Madison, and Shelby Counties. However, Alabama health officials expect an increase in the number of Coronavirus cases along the State’s Gulf coast. Mobile County has three testing sites and two confirmed COVID-19 patients. Two more testing are expected for Baldwin County which has three cases. APR’s Gulf Coast reporter Guy Busby spoke with Baldwin County Commission Chair Billie Jo Underwood. She says her community is gearing up to fight the Coronavirus.

“We have a full team here at the EMA and our call center is pumping out really good information," says Underwood. "It’s the correct information that’s coming down from the proper sources, which are the CDC and the Alabama Department of Public Health."

The City of Gulf Shores closed its own beaches just before Governor Kay Ivey ordered a statewide beach shutdown. The number of college kids flooding Alabama’s beaches during Spring Break prompted action to try to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.