Gov. Kay Ivey Friday declared a state of emergency, hours after officials confirmed the state's first case of the coronavirus. Ivey said the declaration will assist officials as they work to halt the spread of Covid-19. The governor also announced that all public schools would close for 2 1/2 weeks, at the end of business on Wed. March 18. The state health officer, Dr. Scott Harris, also announced that four more cases of coronavirus had been confirmed, including one in Jefferson County.