Photo by Luc Brown
The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in Madison County rose by four Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 12, according to Kim Tedford, executive director of the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department.
The four new cases were announced Wednesday morning by Tedford during a media briefing. One case was reported Tuesday night to the health department, while the other three were reported to the department Wednesday morning.
Tedford said the newest patients are a 45-year-old male, a 66-year-old male, a 56-year-old female, and a 21- year-old female. She said they are not hospitalized and should be self-isolating at home.
One patient’s results came from a state lab, while the other three patients’ results came from private labs, Tedford said.
Tedford said the health department’s epidemiology staff is reaching out to people who had contacts with these patients.
According to models, Madison County is expected to peak in its number of COVID-19 cases mid-April to end of April, Tedford said.
When asked if wearing masks would help those who don’t have the novel coronavirus, Tedford said the mask the pores of the regular masks are large enough for virus particles to come through the mask.
Amy Garner, West Tennessee Healthcare Chief Compliance & Communications Officer, said 464 patients have been tested across the system, with the majority of those negative. She said there are 14 positive cases, from Madison County and outlying counties.
Garner said there are currently five COVID-19 patients at the hospital, with one patient on a ventilator.
Garner also thanked the community for supporting healthcare workers and asked the community to “please continue to pray for healthcare workers,” citing that she did not just mean doctors and nurses, but the desk attendants and janitors also.
There is to be no food or flowers brought to the hospital to be delivered to patients, because there is no one to deliver them.
Visitors will only be allowed for end-of-life situations and women who are in labor can have one person with them.
Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris announced that the county courthouse is closed to the public and will not open again until April 14. He said residents can still go online or call for assistance.
Harris urged residents to work from home and stay at home. He also said he and City of Jackson Mayor Scott Conger would be having a conference call with grocery stores to see what they are doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 because stores have the potential to be places where the novel coronavirus could spread.