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Azar says:"from day one this is what we predicted, this is what we expected, the risk from every average american is low."

You just heard from the secretary of health and human services.

Despite a confirmed death today in the u-s... the risk for covid-19 remains low.

Good evening thanks for joining us... i'm megan reyna.

And i'm will robinson-smith.

Low risk or not -- the state has a plan in place if people start to show symptoms and it starts with a form.

Waay 31's casey albritton learned what other steps must be taken.

The alabama department of public health tells me they have received about ten of these forms over the past two days-- the form includes questions, like if a person has been to china in the past 14 days and what kind of symptoms they are showing.

Ken woodall "i feel it may be coming so getting prepared ahead of time is a good thing."

People in north alabama tell me they are getting anxious.

They hope the alabama department of health has a plan in place if the coronavirus comes to the state.

Ken woodall "pretty nervous because a lot of people are dying."

According to the alabama department of health... if a doctor thinks you could have the virus, they would fill out a form-- answering questions about your travel history and your illness.

Gale mcgraw "when you travel, there is always the possibility of you catching something, so i just want us to be ready."

The doctor would then send the form the the health department and the department would talk about it with the c-d-c.

If the c-d-c thinks you could have the virus, that's when a test is performed.

Ken woodall "i hope they get it contained...and a vaccine would be great."

A doctor would swab your throat and nose and the swab would be shipped overnight to the c-d-c.

You would be quarantined until results came back days later.

Gale mcgraw "i think you would want to keep yourself quarantined from other people just to make sure you don't pass it on to family members, coworkers, and friends."

In the meantime... the alabama department of public health is asking everyone to take precautions to stay healthy.

Gale mcgraw "i am constantly wiping down everything with clorox wipes and used my dishwasher on the very hottest setting."

The alabama department of public health says if you have questions about the virus, you can visit their website.

Reporting in huntsville, casey albritton waay 31 news.

If a doctor suspects someone could have the coronavirus they are asked to contact the infectious disease and outbreaks division.

President trump making a rare saturday appearance from white house briefing room- confirming the first u-s death from coronavirus.

The washington department of health says the death happened in that state's king county.

The hospital says the person came in with serious respiratory issues.

Another patient at the facility is also infected with coronavirus.

That person is isolated and receiving care.

He assures the u-s is ready for whatever comes.

Trump: "tremendous amounts of supplies... already on hand... we have 43-million masks... which is far more anyone could have assumed we could have had so quickly."

The president says 22 people in the u-s have been stricken by the virus - and more cases are likely.

In response to the outbreak - the u-s is banning travel to iran.

It's also elevating travel warnings to regions of italy and south korea.

But the president insists there is no reason to panic at all.

The governor of washington state declared a state of emergency today after the first u-s confirmed death.

Governor jay inslee directed state agencies to use all resources necessary to prepare for and respond to the outbreak.

It also allows the use of the washington national guard if necessary.

Health officials worry covid-19 could spread through west coast communities.

It was a beautiful day today -- and we can expect another similar day tomorrow.

But that won't be the case for the rest of the week.

Waay 31 cheif meteorologist kate mckinna is in the stormtracker weather center with a look a rainy week, including super tuesday.

Kate?

One more dry day - that's what we've got before the rain sets in yet again, bringing with it yet another risk for flooding area-wide.

In the meantime, try to enjoy sunday.

We'll see clouds on the increase with slightly breezy conditions.

Otherwise, it's seasonably warm with highs in the mid 60s after starting in the mid 30s.

Starting sunday night, the rain arrives and we'll see a few waves of steady moderate to at times heavy rain over the course of most of the week.

While the risk for strong to severe storms can be present next week too, the more widespread threat is flooding.

Most locations can expect 4 to 5 inches of rain with locally higher amounts likely.

This is going to cause streams and rivers to rise again, along with standing water and localized flooding, too.

In the coming days, we'll be monitoring both aspects of the forecast closely aspects of the forecast closely .

While there's still a bit of disagreement in the exact "bulls eye" of precipitation and timing of the rain among data sources, it does appear that the rain will be out of north alabama by friday, paving the way for decent weekend weather again next week.

New this evening -- one person is dead after being hit by a car last night.

It happened off governors drive and monroe street just after 10.

Huntsville police say the pedestrian was attempting to cross the street and was hit by a car.

No criminal charges are expected and officers do not believe alcohol or drugs were involved.

Crews are investigating a fire in decatur from this morning.

It happened at a home off prospect drive.

Crews were able to contain it by 10 this morning.

No other homes in the area were affected.

The cause is unknown at this time.

Heads up if you have plans in decatur this weekend.

Decatur utilities will be performing wastewater maintenance.

Crews will work on sixth avenue between point mallard parkway and kinght street.

They will be working sunday and monday nights.

Work is expected to start at 7 at night and continue until 6 in the morning.

About 150 miles of sewer lines need to be replaced in decatur.

Mayor tab bowling says decatur utilities averages 4 to 5 miles of maintenance a year.

That means it would take 30 years to replace all of the sewer lines!

Millions of gallons of sewer water overflowed onto the street because of the recent heavy rain.

Sheffield utilities is also working to fix a large sewage pipe that broke because of the recent flooding.

Around 750 thousand gallons of sewage spilled into the tennessee river.

The utility says fixing the city's pipe issues wil cost 5 to 6 million dollars.

Parents of children with special needs were given the opportunity today to learn more about resources in north alabama.

The birmingham parent's special needs expo was at the jaycee community center.

The exhibition included organizations offering counselors... special needs equipment and educational programs. one father at the expo has a child with special needs--and says the expo is beneficial for families.

Ben gentle/parent "they know they're not alone...there's other people out there that are willing to help and you're not by yourself."

Waay 31 is a proud sponsor of the birmingham parent's special needs expo-- if you want more information about the organization -- head to our website at waay t-v dot com.

In lincoln -- outrage over racist grafitti spray-painted on a building where children play.

Someone painted a racial slur on a building at a ball park.

Investigators are looking into the incident.

Right now, the owner richard george - wants to press charges and find out whose responsible.

"it's not so much about this one the wall, but that one word over there is worse than wildfire."

George has owned this property since 1991.

He says nothing like this has ever happened here before.

He does not have cameras set up on the property but is considering it now.

New this evening -- the mother and grandmother of a prattville boy found naked and chained inside a home were sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The boy's mother -- dannielle nicole martin... and grandmother vickie seal higgenbotham... were given maximum sentences thursday.

They both pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse.

An anonymous call in 2018 led autauga county authorities to the home where the 13- year-old boy was found naked and chained to a door.

In nashville -- police confirm an 11-year-old child was killed by a train this morning.

Police say he was on a railroad bridge near his home when he was hit by the freight train.

The train operator saw him but could not stop in time.

The police department's touth services detectives are investigating.

The u.s. and the taliban have reached a deal that military leaders call a crucial first step in ending america's longest war.

The president said today nearly 5 thousand toops will leave afghanistant by may and he would meet iwht taliban leaders in the near future.

He did not specify where.

The u-s and nato allies have agreed to withdraw all troops within 15 months if the militants uphold the historic deal.

Under the agreement - the militants also agreed not ot allow al-quaeda or any other extremist group to operate in areas they contrl.

As you get prepared to vote this tuesday - you may want to get familiar with the ballot.

Well let you know how you can do just that.