COVID cases continue to rise in Lewis County

COVID-19 cases in Lewis County and Tennessee continue to rise. At 2 p.m. Monday, October 26, it was reported Lewis County had 418 positive cases with 120 being active. With the deaths of Wanda Lomax and Jane West, the death total rose to five for the county.

Tennessee reported its highest single-day increases of coronavirus cases and deaths on Friday, October 23, 2020.

Health officials reported 3,606 COVID-19 cases on Friday and 65 deaths, both record highs according to data.

This comes as hospitalizations also reached a new high across the state with over 1,300 patients.

Health officials said they're "watching" but not "panicked" about the rapid rise in coronavirus hospitalizations.

Several counties in Tennessee have issued mandated mask dates.

Across Tennessee, the number of positive cases among school-age children increased more than 60 percent between August 1 and October 14.

As of Wednesday, October 21, 24,348 Tennessee school-age children had tested positive for the virus.

Lewis County’s school-age children and school staff remain at a low ratio. As of Monday, October 26, Director Benny Pace reported that out of approximately 1,900 students and facility members only nine were reported positive and around 40 were quarantined for close contact.

“I feel our numbers are minimized due to precautions being taken by everyone,” Director Pace stated. “We are continually learning and adjusting our precautions to keep our kids as safe as possible,” he continued.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, everyone should clean their hands often, avoid close contact with people who are sick, social distancing (at least 6 feet), cover your mouth and nose with a mask, cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, clean and disinfect frequently.

CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings and when around people outside of their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Masks may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others.