April 3, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County Health Department has established a COVID-19 assessment site for county residents at:
DeKalb County Health Department
254 Tiger Drive, Smithville
Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm
Additional information about Tennessee’s assessment sites is available for each county on the Tennessee Department of Health website at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/remote-assessment-sites.html.
Most people, particularly those with mild or no symptoms, do not need assessment for COVID-19.
Those in high-risk categories, including contacts of confirmed cases; people in occupations with exposure to large numbers of contacts; health care workers; nursing home residents; severely immunocompromised patients; critically ill patients; pregnant women and people who have COVID-19 symptoms, are prioritized for testing.
There are many things DeKalb County residents can do to reduce the impact of COVID-19:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water (or alcohol-based hand rub) for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing;
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
• Stay home when you are sick;
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with your arm or a tissue;
• Clean and disinfect objects (e.g., cell phone, computer) and high touch surfaces regularly; and,
• Practice social/physical distancing from others, be safer at home.
All Tennesseans, especially those in high-risk populations, should take the following actions to reduce the possibility of getting sick with COVID-19:
• Keep space (at least 6’) between yourself and others;
• Limit your time in public to essential needs only, such as grocery trips, medical care, pharmacy needs or emergencies;
• When you are in public, avoid crowds as much as possible, and keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often;
• Avoid non-essential travel, especially on airlines and cruise ships; and,
• Stay home as much as possible to reduce your risk of being exposed.
TDH has additional information available at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated information and guidance available online at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.