5 positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Dyer County

BRANDON HUTCHESON

bhutcheson@stategazette.com

At 2 p.m. Thursday, April 2, the Tennessee Department of Health provided the updated numbers for confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state, as well as numbers by county. During the most recent update, the state department of health reported Dyer County had 5 positive cases of COVID-19 and 82 negative cases.

The Tennessee Department of Health noted the COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is at 2,845 including 263 hospitalizations, 220 recoveries, and 32 fatalities statewide. The total number of negative cases in Tennessee is 31,766.

At the Tennessee State Public Health Laboratory, a total of 2,086 COVID-19 tests have been completed, resulting in 1,804 negative results and 282 positive.

In all other commercial and private laboratories, a total of 32,525 COVID-19 tests have been completed with 2,563 resulting in positive results and 29,962 negative.

The majority of positive cases are in metropolitan areas, mostly in Middle Tennessee, such as Davidson County (Nashville – 617 confirmed cases; 4,813 negative), Rutherford County (Murfreesboro – 113 confirmed cases; 1,120 negative) Sumner County (Gallatin/Hendersonville – 268 confirmed cases; 913 negative), and Williamson County (Franklin – 199 confirmed cases; 1,434 negative).

The Shelby County (Memphis) metropolitan area leads West Tennessee in confirmed COVID-19 cases. The Tennessee Department of Health has reported 570 confirmed cases (2,829 negative) of COVID-19 in Shelby County.

The state department of health also reported the current numbers for positive and negative COVID-19 test results for all counties in Tennessee. The numbers for West Tennessee counties are as follows:

Benton – 4 positive, 36 negative; Carroll – 5 positive, 91 negative; Chester – 3 positive, 49 negative; Crockett – 0 positive, 29 negative; Decatur – 0 positive, 38 negative; Dyer – 5 positive, 82 negative; Fayette – 14 positive, 148 negative; Gibson – 6 positive, 143 negative; Hardeman – 4 positive, 55 negative; Hardin – 2 positive, 115 negative; Haywood – 2 positive, 41 negative; Henderson – 0 positive, 86 negative; Henry – 4 positive, 79 negative; Lake – 0 positive, 16 negative; Lauderdale – 2 positive, 43 negative; Madison – 13 positive, 212 negative; McNairy – 3 positive, 60 negative; Obion – 2 positive, 72 negative; Shelby – 570 positive, 2,829 negative; Tipton – 24 positive, 196 negative; and Weakley – 1 positive, 68 negative

The report also listed the number of deaths by county. Those results are as follows:

Davidson – 6, Greene – 1, Hamilton – 3, Knox – 1, Marion – 1, Obion – 1, Rutherford – 1, Shelby – 5, Sullivan – 1, Sumner – 7, Trousdale – 1, Williamson – 3, Non-Tennessee residents - 1

The state health department also reported 212 confirmed cases (4,955 negative; 1 death) from individuals who reside outside the state lines.

The State Gazette reached out to the Tennessee Department of Health for further comment on the status of Dyer County during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shelley Walker, Tennessee Department of Health Office of Communication & Media Relations Director released the following statement:

“It’s important for Dyer County residents to continue taking steps to protect their health and the health of others in preventing further spread of COVID-19,” said Walker. “There are lots of things people can do to help flatten the curve and reduce the impact of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water (or alcohol-based hand rub) for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing

• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands

• Stay home when you are sick

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with your arm or a tissue

• Clean and disinfect objects (e.g., cell phone, computer) and high touch surfaces regularly

“Some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness, including older adults and individuals who have serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or lung disease,” Walker explained. “It’s extra important for people in these groups to take actions to reduce their risk of getting sick with COVID-19:

• Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others

• When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often

• Avoid crowds as much as possible

• Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel

• During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.”

The Tennessee Department of Health provides updated COVID-19 numbers daily at 2 p.m. at https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html.

For additional information, visit https://www.tn.gov/governor/covid-19.html, and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.