Kim Tedford, director of the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department, said even though there are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Jackson-Madison County, the novel coronavirus is here and she expects the numbers of positive COVID-19 cases to increase.
“I can assure you, we have COVID-19 in Madison County somewhere,” Tedford said during a media briefing Monday. “The right person’s just not been tested.”
Tedford added: “And let me remind you, not everyone needs to be tested. Just because you’re tested, it doesn’t change your treatment. There is no treatment. For 90 percent of the population, you may get exposed, you may get sick and you self-isolate yourself at home and you may never need… hopefully, you won’t need any further medical care, certainly not a trip to the hospital.”
A Chester County resident, who was confirmed to have COVID-19, is being treated at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.
Tedford said social distancing is the greatest tool in slowing the spread of COVID-19. She added that you should stay at home if you can, only go out if it is absolutely necessary and keep a distance of six feet between you and others.
“There are so many unknowns about the virus,” Tedford said. “This is a new virus…It’s very easy to spread.”
Residents who may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their primary care provider for testing. Please call your provider before you go to the office. If you experience severe illness and need to go to the emergency room, please call ahead.
Providers may choose to use commercial laboratories for testing.
Tedford said the following are private healthcare providers who are doing COVID-19 testing throughout Madison County:
-The LIFT
-West Tennessee Healthcare Walk-In Clinic Thomsen Farms
-Jackson Clinic Convenient Care North
-UT Family Medicine Center
-Madison Family Medical Clinic in Hamilton Hills
-Christ Community Health Services on Lexington Avenue
The Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department is not testing for COVID-19.
The health department encourages residents to take routine precautions used in guarding against respiratory
viruses:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
- Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
- Stay home if you are sick
- Stay away from people who are sick
Find more information about COVID-19 from the Tennessee Department of Health at https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated information and guidance available online at www.cdc.gov/COVID19.