NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Metro reported six additional COVID-19 related deaths on Tuesday – all over the age of 91. Dr. Alex Jahangir, head of Metro's Coronavirus Task Force, said data shows how the virus profoundly affects the elderly and medically vulnerable compared to younger age groups.
The overall mortality rate in Nashville is 0.9%. For those 75 or older, the mortality rate is 13% – that’s nearly 15 times the city’s average mortality rate.
Jahangir said the mortality rate for people ages 35 – 44 is 0.1% – nine times better than the city average. However, he said people under the age 45 also make up 71% of cases and urged that age group to “be smart” to help mitigate the spread.
“Our age group has the most number of cases, and so, our age group has the biggest opportunity to spread this virus. Please wear a mask, socially distance yourself and don’t go out to parties. Be smart. Yes, if you get the virus, you’ll probably be better off and you’ll probably be OK. But, if you can pass it on to someone who is older, or you pass it on to someone who then passes it on to someone older, then, you will hurt that person. And you may end up resulting in the death of someone close to you," said Jahangir, who falls in the age group of under 45.
Metro also reported 126 new cases on Tuesday. So far, 21,551 individuals have fully recovered.
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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.
