Cookeville and Putnam County leaders announced Thursday that an outbreak of COVID-19 occurred at an assisted living facility, infecting at least 28 patients and 16 staff.
The outbreak occurred at Signature Healthcare at Putnam County. According to CEO Lee Rooney, the outbreak happened despite measure put into place starting March 9 to limit outside access to the facility and regularly test patients and staff.
Rooney said on Tuesday, they requested the local health department to test all patients and staff after learning of one case that had developed.
On Wednesday they got the results: 28 patients and 16 staff had tested positive, and Rooney said 90% of those who were tested appeared to be symptom free.
The center has now mobilized into crisis intervention, creating a special COVID-19 unit internally to separate positive patients and prevent further spread. Rooney said the facility has also called in a team of special infectious disease caretakers to increase staff.
“It’s a trying day, it’s a trying time right now," he said.
The facility has contacted families. Out of the 28 elderly patients who tested positive, Rooney said none of them were showing fevers over 100 degrees -- saying it was difficult to tell they had tested positive.
"That's what's scary about this right now. Staff and residents aren't feeling sick," he said.
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the spike in cases locally will likely be reflected on the state's daily tracking reports by Friday. The county was reporting 6 cases prior to the announcement.
"The only way we're going to get past this terrible disease is for you to take this seriously. The next two to three weeks are going to be critical in fighting this disease," Porter said.