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By EMILY SPARACINO | Staff Writer and ALEC ETHEREDGE | Managing Editor

While Shelby County only had a marginal increase of six confirmed cases of COVID-19 between Sunday night and the night of Monday, March 30, bringing the total to 85, the state is now nearing 1,000.

The latest numbers from the Alabama Department of Public Health came at 5:40 p.m. and featured 923 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus statewide, while sixth deaths have been confirmed.

That was almost an increase of 100 confirmed cases between Sunday night, when the case count was at 830, to Monday evening with a total of 6,531 tests administered.

The ADPH has also confirmed six deaths due to COVID-19 across the state from six different counties, including Chambers, Jackson, Lauderdale, Madison, Mobile and Tallapoosa.

Shelby County is one of now 48 counties with multiple cases of COVID-19 and now has the third highest total of confirmed cases. Jefferson County still makes up the most from a single county with 254 confirmed cases, as their numbers continue to rise, while Madison County now has 92 confirmed cases and Lee County has 71.

A total of nine counties now have 20 or more confirmed cases. Other distinct numbers include 45 from Mobile County, 33 from Chambers County, 31 from Walker County, 28 from Montgomery County and 27 from Tuscaloosa County.

In addition to that, Autauga, Baldwin, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Covington, Cullman, Dallas, Dekalb, Elmore, Etowah, Franklin, Greene, Houston, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Washington, Wilcox and Winston all have multiple cases.

Other counties listed as having one confirmed case of COVID-19 include Butler, Crenshaw, Escambia, Fayette, Hale, Lamar, Lowndes, Macon, Monroe, Russell and Sumter.

This latest update featured 59 of Alabama’s 67 counties with at least one confirmed case.

So far, positive cases have also been confirmed featuring four local schools including Thompson High School, Oak Mountain Intermediate or Elementary School, Helena High School and Calera High School. Both Helena and Calera students also possibly had contact with someone at the middle school.

It has also been confirmed that an employee at the Alabaster Chick-fil-A tested positive as did Montevallo pastor Ray Dunmyer of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church.

Testing for COVID-19 is now being done by appointment at UAB as well as Total Care 280 in the North Shelby area off U.S. 280, It’s About Time Urgent Care in Helena and Columbiana Clinic in Columbiana. You are urged to get tested only if you present symptoms of a fever, cough or shortness of breath, or have been in contact with somebody who has the virus.

UAB is encouraging you to call 205-975-1881 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. to describe your symptoms. They will then determine whether you present what could be COVID-19 symptoms, in which case they’ll set an appointment for you to get tested the next day.

If you think you have been exposed or have symptoms, please isolate and call your doctor or nearest medical facility for guidance or call the Alabama Department of Public Health hotline at 1-888-264-2256.

For more information about COVID-19, visit Alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/2019-coronavirus.

To view an updated dashboard of confirmed cases and see testing sites, visit Alpublichealth.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/6d2771faa9da4a2786a509d82c8cf0f7