PARIS, Tenn. (WTVF) — A grandmother from Paris has gone to great lengths to protect her sick grandson from contracting COVID-19.
Rhonda Shoumake surrounded the entry way of her apartment with heavy duty plastic sheeting and caution tape to serve as a warning for her neighbors she claimed aren’t practicing social distancing. She also posted a sign that said, “Stop, a child in this house has complex medical needs.”
Shoumake is the caretaker of her six-year-old grandson whose had a severe respiratory condition that requires him to be on a ventilator since he was three months old. They also need help from nurses around the clock.
“We’ve kind of built an isolation area so no one can come near our door,” Shoumake told NewsChannel 5. “We boxed our entrance way in to where the only way to get to the door is from 10 feet away.”
Her apartment complex, Crestview Manor, sent reminders to residents to practice social distancing and good hygiene, and asked them no to be hanging out, standing out or randomly sit in cars. The zero tolerance policy came after a positive case of COVID-19 “on or very near” to their community.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Henry County made up six of the 4,138 confirmed cases across Tennessee.
“We had to do it in order to keep people away and make them understand we can’t be exposed,” Shoumake said.
She said neighbors are still congregating in big groups. The risk of catching the virus was also worrisome to one of her nurses who didn’t want to come back. However, Shoumake said the nurse returned after she built the “isolation area.”
Her main concern is people who congregate are touching the surfaces near her apartment.
“If you don’t want to take precautions for yourself think of the other people who need it,” she added.
COVID-19 has killed people of all ages, including a child under the age of 5 in Hamilton County last week. There have been positive cases throughout the country involving one-year-old children.
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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.
