Virus growing by community spreading, health officials warn

JACKSON, Tenn. — The number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Madison County, and officials say there’s only one way to stop it.

“Have we reached the point of community spread? Yes. That’s why it is so important for people to stay home,” said Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department Director Kim Tedford.

In other words, people are being infected and don’t know how they got the virus.

“You need to be treating people like they’re infected. Like they have it. Stay away from them. Stay at home,” Tedford said.

But we are still seeing large groups of people out at stores all over Jackson.

“Go to the grocery store,” Tedford said. “It only takes one person from a family to go to the grocery store. Keep your six foot distance from people. Get what you need. Get out and stay home.”

Some stores are already taking precautions, but city and county officials want to make sure all stores are on the same page.

“Consistency is going to be the key here,” said Jackson Mayor Scott Conger. “If one store that sells a similar product is doing social distancing, making people wait and limiting the number, and another store isn’t, then we’re going to see the mass amount of people go to the store that isn’t.”

Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris says all of these precautions are to protect not only community members, but employees too.

“If you’re just bored, don’t go out to a Lowes or a Walmart or wherever that’s open to just look around. Please folks, stay home,” Harris said.

“I know it’s inconvenient, these are unprecedented times,” Tedford said. “But, I can’t stress enough people… stay home!”

Health officials also want to remind you we still haven’t seen our peak number of cases, and it could be the end of April before that happens.