Three people have died of COVID-19 in Alabama, the Alabama Public Health Department reported today as the number of confirmed cases of the disease rose to 639 in 53 of the state’s 67 counties.

All three of the deaths were in the Tennessee Valley in north Alabama — one each in Jackson, Lauderdale and Madison counties.

The Birmingham area continued to be the hot spot, with 179 cases in Jefferson County and 70 in Shelby County, according to the Health Department.

The department’s listing of confirmed cases showed Madison County with 61 and Lee County with 53. Totals for other counties: Mobile, 23; Walker, 24; Tuscaloosa, 22; Montgomery, 18; Limestone, 16; Chambers, 15; Morgan, 13; Elmore, 12; Lauderdale, 11; St. Clair, 9; Chilton, 7; Cullman, 7; Marion, 7; Autauga, 6; Baldwin, 5; Blount, 5; Jackson, 5; Tallapoosa, 5; Etowah, 4; DeKalb, 4; Houston, 4; Marshall, 4; Pike, 4; Talladega, 4; Calhoun, 3; Cleburne, 3; Franklin, 3; Lawrence, 3; Bullock, 2; Coosa, 2; Dallas, 2; Marengo, 2; Washington, 2; Wilcox, 2; Winston, 2; Butler, 1; Cherokee, 1; Choctaw, 1; Clay, 1; Colbert, 1; Covington, 1; Crenshaw, 1; Escambia, 1; Greene, 1; Lamar, 1; Lowndes, 1; Pickens, 1; Randolph, 1; Russell, 1.