Local Meeting Discusses Coronavirus
Thursday morning, Nashville Mayor Billy Ray Jones hosted a meeting at the Nashville High School to discuss contingency plans concerning the Coronavirus. Jones stated this meeting was one step in preventing the virus from becoming a problem.
Jones said the meeting was held to help establish protocols.
He said it was also held so area businesses, schools and health professionals could be on the same page.
Nashville Superintendent Doug Graham reported the district would close if there was a confirmed positive case of the Coronavirus in Howard County. He stated the district could use its AMI days and possibly expand that program for an extended period of time.
Graham stated the district has suspended all out-of-state travel as of Monday, March 16 and information will be sent home with students and posted on the district’s website.
Graham stated one concern he has is families traveling over Spring Break to states and countries that have positive Coronavirus cases.
Donna Webb with the Howard County Health Department reported 80 percent of the China confirmed cases were mild, 15 percent were severe and 5 percent were critical. She said the overall fatality rate is 2 to 3 percent.
The Health Department reports there is 1 presumed positive case in Arkansas and that is in Pine Bluff. Fourteen people are currently under investigation for the Coronavirus. 111 oversea travelers are being monitored and 12 people have been tested and had negative results.
Howard Memorial Hospital CEO Debra Wright reported the symptoms of the Coronavirus are fever, shortness of breath and a cough. She said patients who think they may have the Coronavirus should contact the hospital or doctors office before arriving at the facility.
Dr. John Hearnsberger provided some common sense habits to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, the flu and the other illnesses.
Mayor Jones said this meeting also prepared for the possibility of a positive case.
