307 people asked to be tested for COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus, in Tuscaloosa Monday and 267 met the recommended criteria for a screening, a DCH Regional Medical Center administrator said Tuesday afternoon.

Paul Betz, the chief operating officer of the DCH Health System, said 273 cars came into Tuscaloosa's drive-through COVID-19 testing center after it opened Monday morning.

267 people had flu-like symptoms generally including a high fever and cough, and most of those were screened through a sputum test during which they spit mucus into a sample cup. Those samples will now be tested for COVID-19, and Betz said the first round of results should be available in 3-5 days.

Betz said the DCH Health System will also severely limit the visitors they allow in their system hospitals amid concerns about the spread of the virus.

Effective at noon on Wednesday, one healthy visitor will be allowed to see patients in end-of-life situations or outpatient cancer treatment. Two healthy visitors will be allowed to see newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit. Until further notice, all other visitation will be suspended.

To hear Betz's full remarks, tune in to any Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa station at 5 p.m. Tuesday for our daily Town Hall broadcast intended to inform the community during this outbreak.

That audio will also be added to this post after it is processed and available.

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