HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Five patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died in Lee County since "Friday morning". The five patients were being treated at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, Alabama.
East Alabama Medical Center posted on Facebook confirming the deaths and giving a public update.
According to the statement, three of those patients were from Chambers County and two were from Lee County.
As of 7:30 pm March 28, 2020, these deaths have not been recorded by the Alabama Department of Public Health. You can find an interactive map with all confirmed cases and deaths in the state here.
The statement from East Alabama Medical Center (Facebook post) is below:
An excerpt of the statement reads:
"(as of 3 p.m. on March 28, 2020)
Five Deaths Reported
East Alabama Medical Center officials are saddened to report that five (5) patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died at the hospital since Friday morning. Three (3) of the patients were from Chambers County and two (2) from Lee County. As of 5 p.m., this total is not yet reflected on the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) website because hospital officials and ADPH are working through the process for official state determination before adding them to the COVID-19 death count. However, EAMC felt it was important to share at this time so that citizens in this area understand the gravity of this virus. “Our hospital family expresses its collective condolences to the families of these five patients,” stated Laura Grill, EAMC President and CEO. “As everyone knows, this virus has taken a toll on our nation and world, and our community is not exempt from that. Our hearts and prayers are with these families at this very difficult time.” Grill adds that “the ICU staff, respiratory therapists and physicians who worked most closely with these patients are especially struggling and we ask that the community lift them up today just as they have been lifting up our whole organization the past two weeks.”
In the Hospital
• EAMC currently has 19 patients hospitalized with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.
• Five (5) patients who were previously hospitalized with COVID-19 have been discharged.
• There are 22 patients who are currently hospitalized with suspected COVID-19.
• Fourteen (14) hospitalized patients who were previously suspected of COVID-19 have been ruled negative for the virus.
Confirmed COVID-19 cases by county in EAMC immediate service area
Lee County – 56
Chambers County – 17
Tallapoosa County – 5
Bullock County – 3
Randolph County – 2
Russell County – 1
Clay County – 2"
