Rutherford County reached an
unfortunate but inevitable milestone over Memorial Day weekend as its number of
COVID-19 positive cases rose to more than 1,000.
The Tennessee Department of Health reported Monday that
Rutherford County had to date 1,029 positive cases.
“We understand that when reviewing the raw data the tendency
is to become alarmed that the number of positive tests keeps increasing,” said
Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron, “but Emergency Physician Russ Galloway reminds
us that there is more to it than that.”
Dr. Galloway, who serves as an emergency physician with
Saint Thomas Rutherford and is also the Medical Director for Rutherford County
Emergency Medical Services and Murfreesboro Fire Rescue, recently put the testing
data into perspective in a public service announcement https://youtu.be/zzr6S4EFb5I
released by Rutherford County Government and the jurisdictions within.
“Tennessee, including Rutherford County, has made COVID-19
testing more accessible and free to citizens,” said Galloway. “With the number
of tests increasing, it is inevitable that the number of positives will
increase as well.”
Galloway encourages the public to view the number of positives
in relation to the actual number of tests being administered. “Those
percentages are continuing to decrease,” he said.
The Rutherford County Emergency Operations Center and
Rutherford County Health Department (RCHD) are consistently monitoring the numbers
to make sure the percentages remain at or below 10 percent positive of the
total number tested.
According to RCHD, between 200-300 people are being tested
in Rutherford County daily. As more tests are administered, the number of
positives will continue to increase as well. COVID-19 is available at RCHD
Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, and citizens are asked to call ahead at
615-898-7880.
“We’ve been encouraged by measures that our citizens and
businesses have taken to continue to slow the spread of this virus in our
communities,” said Ketron, “but we are still not back to a ‘business as usual’
state of mind.”
Ketron said it is important that residents continue to
practice social distancing, wear face coverings when appropriate, and wash
hands frequently for 20 seconds or more. Ketron also urges those who are sick
to stay home.
“This has been a truly unique health situation with no
playbook or preparedness guide,” said Ketron. “We will continually monitor this
situation at all levels, federal, state, and locally to make thoughtful
considerations for our community members. Please continue to be patient with us
as we navigate these uncertain times together. Maintain your space. Cover your
face. Help us remain #RutherfordCountyStrong.”