Mississippians quarantined after contact with Tennessee patient,
Contact with Tenn. coronavirus patient reported by official
An unspecified number of Mississippians are among those being quarantined after contact with a confirmed coronavirus patient in Tennessee, a Tennessee health official said.
Alisa Haushalter, director of the Shelby County, Tennessee, Health Department, told the Memphis Commercial Appeal that 70 people — most from Tennessee, but some from Mississippi — are being quarantined. So far, none have been tested for the virus, but will be if they show symptoms, the Commercial Appeal reported. Further details on those quarantined were not provided, the paper reported.
Mississippi Health Department spokeswoman Liz Sharlot said Tuesday, “there are a million rumors out there and I can't address them” when asked about the Tennessee report of Mississippians being quarantined.
“I have no idea about what Shelby County Health Department is doing,” Sharlot said in a written response. “... We have no positive cases of coronavirus at this time.”
Sharlot said people should “practice good, consistent hygiene ... and stay away from those who are ill.”
The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday still listed Mississippi as one of 14 states in the U.S. that had no confirmed case of the virus. Tennessee had seven confirmed cases as of Tuesday.
The Mississippi Health Department said on Monday that older adults in four North Mississippi counties could be “at risk” of exposure to the virus after the nearby Tennessee case was reported, prompting a list of recommendations for all nursing and group homes in the area.
The list included restrictions on visitations and a halt to all group activities.
The Commercial Appeal reported all 70 people who had contact with the confirmed coronavirus patient are asymptomatic and are being asked to stay at home for 14 days from the day of contact with the patient.