September 11 COVID-19 update: Tennessee surpasses 2,000 deaths since start of pandemic – NewsChannel5.com

September 11 COVID-19 update: Tennessee surpasses 2,000 deaths since start of pandemic  NewsChannel5.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Tennessee Department of Health reported 1,622 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. Thirty-seven additional deaths were reported in the past 24 hours.

Today’s update brings the state’s total number of cases to 169,859. The death toll has risen to 2,025.

TDOH said the number of current hospitalizations has dropped by 50. An additional 1,472 people have recovered.

In Metro Nashville, only 21 new cases were reported on Friday morning, as the number of active cases continues to drop. That reporting includes all new cases reported in the last 24 hours.

One additional death was reported, a 76-year-old man.

Hospital bed availability in Middle Tennessee and ICU bed availability are both at or under 15%, which is below the 20% threshold on the city’s reopening metrics. Metro Nashville remains in a modified Phase 2 for reopening.

As of today, 237 people in Davidson County have died after a confirmed case of COVID-19. Including both confirmed and probable cases, 248 deaths have been attributed to COVID-19.

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COUNTY-BY-COUNTY CASES IN TENNESSEE

What is COVID-19 (a.k.a. the new coronavirus?)

According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Examples include the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. COVID-19 stands for “Coronavirus disease 2019,” which is when this strain of the coronavirus was discovered.

What are the symptoms?

The CDC says patients confirmed to have the 2019-nCoV reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of the following symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell

At this time, the CDC believes symptoms could appear as soon as two days after exposure, or as long as 14 days.

Prevention

The CDC is recommending “common sense” measures such as:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

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