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Madison County employees return to work Friday, adapting to Safer-at-Home order

All county employees will go back to work Friday, May 1st. They will finalize plans to reopen to the public next week.

MADISON COUNTY, ALABAMA, Ala. — Madison County leaders say when it comes to flattening the curve, Madison County residents are doing a good job.

Commission Chairman Dale Strong says he was hoping for a more lenient reopening.

RELATED: Alabama's new Safer-at-Home order: What you need to know

"The governor is making a decision based on all of Alabama. Some counties are not doing as well as we are, and especially some that are as close as forty miles away from Madison County," said Chairman Strong. "I do believe that Madison County has performed exceptional, and that is why we are in the position that we were hoping for much more today."

Leaders say it's important to follow the new "safer-at-home" guidelines as there is still some concern for a spike in cases if the state reopens too fast.

"We are one large gathering event away from allowing this virus to pick up steam," said Chairman Strong.

All county employees will go back to work this Friday. They will finalize plans to reopen to the public next week.

Because elective surgeries can resume under the new order, we will likely see more testing being done.

CEO of Crestwood Medical Center, Dr. Pam Hudson, said, "As we open up our elective procedures, we're taking well people who are having a procedure that is not as time sensitive and if they need to stay in the hospital, we want them to be in an area where we have the best information where everyone is tested negative, so you will see the beginnings of some hospital testing."

Health officials say we can expect hospitals to avoid using waiting rooms as more people start to come in.

"More and more you will see your health care providers have you waiting in your car," said Dr. Hudson.

Officials continue to encourage people who feel sick to stay home and seek care if needed.

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RELATED: BREAKING: Alabama's stay-at-home order will expire on April 30

RELATED: City of Athens updates policies based on Safer-at-Home order

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