May 10, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
After earlier announcing that drive through COVID-19 assessment days were being reduced from five to three days a week, the DeKalb County Health Department now says the testing will continue at five days per week but at different times on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Assessments will continue to be conducted on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9am-3pm. but on Tuesdays and Thursdays the testing will be done only from 1 to 3 p.m.
Anyone, with or without COVID-19 symptoms who has concerns, is invited to receive testing for COVID-19. This testing will be provided at no cost to participants, and those who come for testing can remain in their vehicles throughout the process of collecting their samples.
Nurses and/or National Guard medics will collect nasal swabs from those who want to be tested, and test results may be available within 72 hours after the samples arrive at the lab, depending on lab volume.
DeKalb County’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has climbed to 28.
As of Monday, May 11, the Tennessee Department of Health reported that 903 people had been tested with 875 negative results and 28 positive. There have been no deaths in DeKalb County from the virus and 16 of the 28 persons tested positive have recovered.
At 28 cases, DeKalb County ranks 4th highest in the Upper Cumberland region behind Putnam with 178, Cumberland 84, and Macon 59. Other counties in the region with COVID-19 cases are Smith 24, White 16, Overton 14, Cannon 13, Warren 12, Jackson 10, Clay 6, Fentress 6, Van Buren 2, and Pickett 1.
Meanwhile the health department has reusable face masks for anyone needing them but please call in advance at 615-597-7599 to let them know how many people in your immediate family need a mask. Upon your arrival the health department staff will bring the masks to your car. Please do not come inside the health department to get your mask for the protection of the public and staff.
Tennessee’s Coronavirus Public Information Lines are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., CDT daily at 833-556-2476 or 877-857-2945.