Jackson, Tenn.–Jackson Mayor Scott Conger has announced the city will be announcing a closure of non-essential businesses soon due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a Facebook post, Conger said, “It has become overwhelmingly apparent that we must take every step that we can to flatten the curve. Our window is small and we have to use it. I’ve been listening to the medical community on the front lines and this needs to happen.”
As of 2 p.m. Saturday, March 21, the confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported by the Tennessee Department of Health was at 371.
Late this week, Jackson-Madison County General Hospital and the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department were notified of a confirmed case of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The patient lives in Chester County, but was treated in Madison County.
Conger said Saturday, “We know that there are gaps in reporting. This will continue to happen as more commercial labs have access to testing.
We know this disease is spreading rapidly.
We know that social distancing is the best way to prevent the spread of the disease.
We know we have to be responsible for ourselves and our families.
We know that it’s not about the 80% that won’t be seriously harmed by this. It’s about the capacity of our healthcare system and the vulnerable 20% of the population.
We know we have to flatten the curve and be the kind of responsible adults our parents raised us to be.”