HARPERSVILLE, Ala. (AP) - A small Alabama town's police chief has tested positive for the coronavirus and now most of the department, if not all, is under quarantine.
Harpersville Police Chief Jimmy Macon has served since 2015 as chief of the department, which has a total of eight employees. On Monday, Macon received confirmation he had tested positive for COVID-19, said Mayor Don Greene. The chief had not shown any signs of the illness prior to his positive result, al.com reported.
Macon is feeling fine, Greene said, and working from home. The day-shift police officers on duty at the time were ordered to quarantine while their COVID-19 tests were being processed. Greene said all department heads were notified of the possible exposure. Additionally, all employees who were in close contact with police prior to June 15 were encouraged to seek testing.
The department's building was professionally disinfected on Tuesday, officials said. As of Thursday, two officers have tested negative for the virus. Officials are awaiting the results of the remaining tests.
Meanwhile, Greene said the Shelby County Sheriff's Office is answering calls for the department until the department returns to work.
"You've heard the song 'A Country Boy Can Survive,' Greene said. "We will survive this. This 'ole country town will survive."