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Resident at Nashville retirement community tests positive for COVID-19

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Posted at 10:41 AM, Apr 09, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-09 11:41:26-04

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — One resident at McKendree Village, a retirement community in Nashville, has tested positive for COVID-19.

McKendree Village confirmed in a release that the resident had been in the facility for a short time and lived on one of their four units. They said residents in the immediate area are now in isolation as a precautionary measure.

In an effort to keep residents and staff safe, McKendree Village also said it's restricting visitors at the facility based on recommendations from the CDC.

“We encourage loved ones to communicate with our residents in ways, other than in-person visits, such as video chat, telephone, or social media,” said Tammy Neideffer, VP of Business Development. “These precautions are vital to helping us avoid and minimize the possible spread of this virus.”

The facility said it's deep cleaning the area where the person lived and increased monitoring of staff and residents for symptoms. The staff also received training on hand washing and hygiene.

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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.