Madison Co. impacted by COVID-19
JACKSON, Tenn. — Monday night Madison County got its first confirmed case of COVID-19.
It’s a 23-year-old woman who traveled to Miami by herself. Health officials say she is self-quarantining and recovering.
Schools in Madison County also started their grab-and-go meals for the more than 12,000 students in the district.
Tuesday, people were reminded of the symptoms and how they’re different from allergies or a cold. COVID-19 symptoms include: fever, dry cough and shortness of breath.
The Madison County Courthouse is still open, but limiting the number of people let in. They are also screening everyone before they walk in.
Lifeline Blood Services also wants to remind everyone it’s safe to donate blood.
Wednesday, WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News received confirmation of a second case of COVID-19 in Madison County.
It’s a 77-year-old who is being treated at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. She lives alone, so how did she get the virus?
Health officials say a family friend visited her on the way to Michigan. That friend is now being treated in Michigan for COVID-19.
Thursday afternoon, there was a third confirmed case in Madison County. She’s a 73-year-old woman who traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin within the past couple of weeks.
Friday, a fourth case was confirmed by the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department. A 28-year-old woman has tested positive for COVID-19, but currently lives and works in Shelby County, but has a Madison County address.
She has not been in Madison County since developing symptoms, according to the health department.
West Tennessee Healthcare and the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department opened the first drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at the Jackson fairgrounds. They tested 67 people.
Hospital officials also want to thank community members who want to help with making masks for healthcare providers, but the N95 masks they use do have to go through strict testing, so they’re hesitant to use the community made masks.
The city of Jackson’s code department and police department are also driving around checking to make sure non-essential businesses are following the executive order to stay closed.
Friday, county officials talked about employee’s rights during the pandemic.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act does provide paid leave for an employee who is quarantined, an employee who is taking care of someone who is quarantined or an employee needing to take care of a child because their school or daycare is closed due to the pandemic.
The hospital is also expanding their times at the University of Tennessee Medicine north clinic, located on Physicians Drive, to let people have more opportunities to be tested. They’ll be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The health department says they will continue to update if more positive cases are confirmed over the weekend. Otherwise briefings will resume on Monday.
