Local Nursing Home Reports COVID-19 Cases

Starting now, the Tennessee Department of Health will report the number of confirmed cases and COVID-19-related fatalities in all long-term care facilities across the state.

In the first report, it was noted Boulevard Terrace Health and Rehabilitation in Murfreesboro is reporting four COVID-19 positive cases in their facility. No deaths have been reported there.

There are 22 facilities across the state with reported cases, totaling 375 statewide with 37 deaths reported.

Of those, Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing had 161 of the cases and 19 deaths.

The Department of Health detailed plans on how they're working with long-term care facilities to protect residents and staff from COVID-19 and mitigate outbreaks.

The action plans include:

• Immediate notification of public health department of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases in residents or staff;
• Immediate facility notification of residents and their representatives of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases inside the facility;
• Robust and swift information gathering by Department staff in concert with the facility to determine:
• Personal protective equipment and environmental cleaning needs;
• The need for targeted or widespread testing of residents and staff;
• Whether positive residents can cohort within the facility or must be relocated to hospitals for greater medical care
• Ongoing investigation and contact tracing by Department staff, facility cleaning, and daily situation updates with the facility to ensure the facility is safe for residents and staff.