News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Cookeville Rescue Mission is taking precautions to protect the homeless during the pandemic.
Roughly 50 residents are currently being served by the mission. One resident went to the hospital last week with COVID-19 symptoms, but tested negative.
Executive Director Bruce Bailey said his team has limited access to venturing outdoors so they don’t carry a virus back.
“We have tried to keep our current clientele in house,” Bailey said. “A closed environment like this is much like a nursing home where if you get a virus it can quickly spread so we wanted to be very careful and cautious.”
The mission has also segregated people depending on whether they leave for day jobs and those who do not. Like so many in the community, Bailey has asked his population to practice good hygiene.
“Our residents come in for meals, they go to the wash room, wash their hands, and then they go over to the sanitary station and use hand sanitizer before they even get a tray to pick up food,” Bailey said. “After every meal, the tables, chairs and walls are disinfected,” Bailey said.
