OFFICIALS.
DOCTORS ARE SHARING NEW UPDATES.
XAVIER: OFFICIALS ARE SAYING THERE IS A POSSIBLE VACCINE TESTING POSITIVE WITH ANIMALS, BUT UNTIL IT CAN BE TESTED IN HUMANS, THEY ARE TAKING MAJOR STEPS WITH THE HOSPITAL.
THEY ARE KEEPING PATIENTS THAT COME IN WITH FLULIKE SYMPTOMS AWAY FROM ANY PATIENTS WITHOUT THEM.
THEY HAVE MOVED TRIAGE OUTSIDE OF THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, SO PEOPLE ARE ASKED IMMEDIATELY UPON ENTERING IF THEY HAVE ANY RISK OR EXPOSURE TO THE VIRUS.
>> THAT IS TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AND CATCH ANY PATIENT WHO COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE RISK FOR THE VIRUS.
XAVIER: UAB OFFICIALS WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THERE ARE NO REPORTED CASES IN ALABAMA.
THEY EXPECT TO SEE POSITIVE RESULTS INCREASE AS THEY CONTINUE TESTING.
IN THE EVENT THERE IS SOMEONE IN ALABAMA WHO TESTS POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS, CONFIRMATION WILL COME DIRECTLY FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AN OFFICIAL WITH UAB MEDICAL CENTER SAYS RIGHT NOW THE CDC IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS CAN BE GIVEN, BUT THAT COULD SOON CHANGE.
>> IN PROBABLY FOUR DAYS, OPTIMISTICALLY, WE CAN HAVE THE TEST DONE HERE.
ONE OF THE MAJOR MANUFACTURERS TO TEST THE REGULAR FLU AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES HAS ADDED THE CORONAVIRUS, COVID-19, ON TO THAT SWAB TEST.
XAVIER: HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH AN EXPERIMENTAL DRUG USED DURING THE EBOLA OUTBREAK.
IT IS TESTING PRETTY POSITIVE WITH THE CORONAVIRUS IN ANIMALS.
THOSE DETAILS ARE STILL IN THE WORKS AND WE WILL RELAY THOSE DETA