Photo by Luc Brown
The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in Madison County rose by three Monday morning, bringing the total number of cases to seven, said Kim Tedford, Regional Director of the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department.
Tedford made the announcement during a media briefing at the health department and said her department was just notified this morning so she has no details about the three new cases. She said the positive COVID-19 confirmations came from a private lab and that the department’s epidemiology staff are contacting those people and those they have been in contact with.
Tedford gave updates on the first four cases: the first person is doing fine and has completely recovered; the second person remains hospitalized, the third person is recovering and the fourth person lives and works in Shelby County, but has a Madison County address, which is why she is counted in the total for Madison County.
Tedford also said results could come in at any time from last week’s COVID-19 drive-through assessment testing. in which 67 people were tested.
Tedford urged residents to stay at home and that if supplies or food were needed, one person, not the entire family, should go out and come right back home.
“Please stay at home,” Tedford said. “This virus isn’t going to spread by itself.”
Amy Garner, West Tennessee Healthcare Chief Compliance & Communications Officer, said 386 people have been tested across the system, with the majority of those negative and others pending. Those who tested positive have already been reported.
Garner said there are currently four COVID-19 patients at the hospital, but she does not have their current conditions.
Garner also said the West Tennessee Surgery Center and the Skyline Endoscopy Center were closed as of Monday because all non-essential surgeries have been canceled and there is a possibility that those facilities and staff members will be used as the number of cases increase.
If you feel you have symptoms, Garner said you can contact UT Medicine Practice, located at 31 Physicians Drive, in Jackson, but you should call ahead (731) 423-1932.
Garner said West Tennessee Healthcare has the equipment to test but they can’t get reagents, which are in short supply nationwide, but they are trying to get them because, with those reagents, they can get results in 45 to 90 minutes.
West Tennessee Healthcare is also looking at the possibility of reopening closed facilities to help if need as the number of COVID-19 cases rises.
City of Jackson Mayor Scott Conger said he wanted everyone to pay attention and stay at home.
“You have to stay home,” he said. “It’s only going to get bigger.”
Conger urged everyone to practice social distancing. He said because it wasn’t being practiced at the city’s parks, he made the decision to close them beginning Monday. If you are caught in the park, it is a misdemeanor and you could face up to a $500 fine.
Conger stressed that all city parks are closed, even those that don’t have gates or signs up that say they are closed
Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris said county parks remain open currently and that he is keeping an eye on them.
Harris also urged practicing social distancing, saying that “It is critical that we keep that distance…You don’t know if you have (COVID-19).”