Haywood County Mayor David M. Livingston announced Haywood County’s first COVID-19 case Saturday afternoon on Facebook.
In a statement released on the public Facebook group the Haywood TN Community Forum, Livingston said that he was notified Saturday by the Tennessee Department of Health about a Haywood County resident who had test positive for the novel coronavirus. He said the health department is working with the resident, who is in quarantine.
The following is the rest of Livingston’s statement:
“This is not unexpected. Your local officials have been preparing for and expecting that this would occur for weeks and have so warned you of the impending eventuality that this virus will come to Haywood County, Tennessee. We are coordinating with the Tennessee Department of Health and the Health Care Community to make sure all Haywood County residents are protected.
The worst thing we can do during these trying time is panic. It is important to remember that the vast majority of patients that contract this virus will have a mild course of illness and recover quickly. If you are ill with respiratory symptoms, it is very important that you call your medical care provider or Doctor’s Office first. DO NOT JUST SHOW UP AT THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE. AGAIN, CALL FIRST. Do not go to the Emergency Room without calling first. We are all in this together and together we will make sure that our Health Care Community is not overwhelmed.
HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR COMMUNITY:
FIRST: IF YOU ARE SICK, call your Health Care Provider or Doctor’s Office. (AGAIN, DO NOT JUST SHOW UP WITHOUT CALLING FIRST) Keep your hands clean and continue to practice social distancing. This will reduce the changes that you spread the virus to others including your family. If you are feeling bad stay at home, but call your employer at inform him as to what is happening.
SECOND: CHECK on by telephone our elderly, people with immune problems, cancer patients, dialysis patients, pregnant mothers or any of our other citizens that have their immune system compromised. They need to stay at home as much as possible and we need to support them and keep them safe. People over the age of 65 and those in poor health are at the greatest risk. We, as a community, need to support them. This does not mean that people under the age of 65 can not catch this virus.
This is not unexpected. We knew and have been telling you that eventually this was going to occur. We are prepared and are working closely with the Tennessee Department of Health, our Health Care Community, and all governmental agencies to minimize the impact on the residents of Haywood County, Tennessee. Your well- being has been and continues to be our primary concern.
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. OF THIS, I AM CERTAIN. Individuals with specific questions, please call the Tennessee Department of Health for further information at their hot line: 1-877-857-2945 or 1-731-421-6782.
GODSPEED,
David M. Livingston”