News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Seven coronavirus cases have been reported to Putnam County officials by private testing services.
County Mayor Randy Porter said the individual tests results came back prior to the state’s daily 2:00pm update. Porter said some of the cases may not be individuals who live in Putnam County.
“What we’re seeing is people are driving to Putnam County from places as far away as Murfreesboro coming up here to be tested for for whatever reason, we don’t know,” Porter said. “And so those seven cases might wind up that only two or three of those might be from Putnam County. But those are folks that have been tested inside of Putnam County and that have showed a positive.”
Federal health officials have warned all week that the more testing that occurs, the more positive tests that will occur.
“I think that we’ve been very fortunate so far, only have maybe up to seven tests positive, which is a very, very small number compared to a lot of the other illnesses we have going on,” Porter said.
Porter said the community should continue to follow the protocols set forth by the CDC.
“Wash your hands, use disinfectant, you know, around your workers or home and and so forth and and stay away from large gatherings,” Porter said. “We’ve had people ask about why we’re not shutting down, you know, restaurants and bars and all that kind stuff. We don’t have the power to do that. That comes from the governor and from state health department.”
“We just ask people to be responsible. And if there’s a large gathering, don’t go. Just cause the place is doing something doesn’t mean you have to go.”
Porter also urged citizens not not horde items such as food or cleaning supplies.
Meantime, a second coronavirus case has been reported in Cumberland County Friday. 228 cases have been reported statewide. 563 tests through the state laboratory have come back negative.
