The coronavirus continues to spread – and now it’s hitting close to home.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Alabama Department of Public Health had reported one confirmed case of the coronavirus in Franklin County.

At the ADPH COVID-19 dashboard, located at bit.ly/ALCOVID19Dashboard, the department is keeping the public up to date on confirmed cases across the state. As of Tuesday afternoon, ADPH was reporting 215 confirmed cases across the state, with a total of 1,832 tested.

Deaths currently remain at 0 in Alabama.

According to the ADPH, no additional information can be provided on the Franklin County case because of HIPPA law.

“Cases of COVID-19 are investigated by ADPH, and the case goes under home quarantine, unless hospitalized where they are also under quarantine. Close contacts identified as part of the investigation are notified and placed under home quarantine as well,” reads the ADPH statement released by public information officer Arrol Sheehan. “Places of employment or businesses are contacted as part of the investigation. Cases and contacts are not allowed to be out in public until instructed by ADPH that they may do so.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, total cases across the U.S. stands at 33, 404 as of noon Monday. Total deaths has hit 400. That’s with all 50 states. D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands reporting cases.

The CDC recommends those who think they might have the coronavirus to take the following steps:

1. Stay home, except to get medical care.
2. Call the doctor before going for medical care, to report symptoms. Anyone who does not have a primary care physician can call Alabama’s COVID-19 hotline, 1-888-264-2256, for information on testing sites.

The following recommendations also continue, as the public fights the spread: wash hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; cover mouth and nose with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when coughing or sneezing; avoid contact with others, especially those who are unwell.

For general COVID-19 questions, call 1-800-270-7268 or email covid19info@adph.state.al.us.