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Nashville Zoo to reopen during Davidson County's third phase

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Posted at 3:53 PM, May 14, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-14 16:53:10-04

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Nashville Zoo said it will open back up to the public during phase three in Davidson County's reopening plan.

The first steps to reopening in Metro Nashville began on Monday when restaurants and retailers were allowed to resume services at 50% capacity.

Mayor John Cooper said each phase in his "Roadmap for Reopening Nashville" will follow key metrics which look at a 14-day new case trend, the transmission rate of the virus in Metro Nashville, the public health capacity, testing capacity, and hospital floor bed and ICU bed capacity.

There are four phases in the mayor's plan, with each starting no earlier than 14 days after the previous phase begins.

While waiting and preparing to reopen, the Nashville Zoo is asking the community to fill out a survey on steps it can take to make visitors feel safe.

Click here to fill out the survey.

MORE TENNESSEE COVID-19 COVERAGE

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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.