wash hands Birmingham Water Works stops water disconnections amid coronavirus — *WASH YOUR HANDS! Photo via the Birmingham Water Works Board on Facebook*

The coronavirus is continuing to have effects across the world, including right here in Birmingham. Though we don’t have a confirmed case in Alabama (as of March 12, 2020), Birmingham Water Works announced plans to help prevent the spread of the illness.

Here’s what you need to know.

1) Birmingham Water Works won’t be cutting off water for delinquent payments until further notice.

bwwb Birmingham Water Works stops water disconnections amid coronavirus — *Photo via Birmingham Water Works on Facebook*

To ensure all Birmingham residents have access to clean water for drinking and hand washing, Birmingham Water Works will not be stopping water connections due to delinquent payments for the foreseeable future.

2) Hand washing is a key way to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

animated graphic 2019 nCoV Birmingham Water Works stops water disconnections amid coronavirus — *Photo via the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s website*

Health officials are urging people to wash their hands frequently to stop the spread of coronavirus. It’s recommended to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content.

Other prevention measures from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) include:

Avoid touching your face
Avoid close contact with those who are sick
Cover your coughs and sneezes
Stay home if you aren’t feeling well

3) While Birmingham Water Works won’t be stopping water for delinquent payments, they still encourage people to pay what they can.

It’s important to know that residents will still be charged for their water consumption over time and must pay their bills eventually—this is a temporary suspension.