Events canceled in Selma as first coronavirus case in Alabama reported in Montgomery

As the first case of Coronavirus in Alabama was confirmed in Montgomery Friday, several events in Selma were canceled. The Selma Sun has been unable to confirm if they are related to the Coronavirus case.

Morgan Academy head baseball coach Stephen Clements announced Friday that the Morgan Academy baseball double header with Success United at Morgan set for March 13 was cancelled. Success United made the decision to cancel.

Also, Wallace Community College Selma announced that the ACE Competition set for Friday was also cancelled. ACE is a scholastic competition for area schools.

The Selma Sun reached out to both Success Unlimited and WCC Selma, but unable to contact anyone to confirm if these cancellations were related to a reported case of Coronavirus reported in Montgomery on Friday as well.

However, earlier today, Gov. Kay Ivey upon learning of Alabama’s first confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) case, released the following statement:

“Along with my fellow Alabamians, I have closely monitored the rapidly changing events regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As a state, we have taken precautionary measures and made preparations in the case that the virus would eventually reach our state. As I have emphasized time and again, the safety and health of Alabamians is paramount.

“Alabamians are smart and savvy, and I know they will continue taking appropriate precautions to prevent the spread to themselves or others. We have taken a calm and collected approach in preparation for this first confirmed case, and we need to remember that calm and steady wins the race. Alabamians should not be fearful, but instead, use commonsense to watch out for themselves and others. We will remain engaged on the matter and continue prioritizing the health and wellbeing of all Alabamians.

“I am grateful to the work of State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, as well as the members of my Coronavirus Task Force and countless individuals who are also watching and working on this situation closely.”

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State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said in a press conference today, “We finally found our first case (of Coronavirus) this morning. We had a sample submitted to us yesterday afternoon, it was tested overnight, and at about 8 a.m. this morning we learned that this test was positive.”

He said the person is a resident of Montgomery County who traveled to another state where there was community transmission of the disease going on. He said, “Our understanding at this time is that the patient felt unwell on returning home and has self-isolated themself since they have been home.”

He said, “We have epidemiologists who are already reaching out to make contact with this person and with the healthcare providers of this person so that we can try to continue to do the kind of contact tracing we do and try to learn whether there are other contacts that need to be identified or investigated further.”

Harris said, “The Alabama Department of Public Health has worked hard to prepare and has anticipated receiving a report of the first case of COVID-19 in an Alabama resident. We continue to recommend that people be prudent and encourage them to use proper hygiene behaviors such as handwashing, not touching their faces with unwashed hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home if they have fever. As a precaution, it is suggested that any gatherings of more than 500 people be postponed or canceled.”

He said, however, the number of people is less important that the distance between people. “People need to remain more than six feet apart particularly when you are in crowds to minimize the risk of any disease transmission.”

Harris also emphasized hand washing and covering a cough or sneeze, not touching one’s face and staying at home if you are sick.