Knoxville-area healthcare organizations Covenant Health, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Tennova Healthcare and University of Tennessee Medical Center released this statement Thursday:
We support the decision made by the Knox County Board of Health regarding the required wearing of masks in public places where social distancing is difficult. We agree with ongoing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization which says that wearing a mask can limit the spread of COVID-19. However, wearing a mask alone is not sufficient to provide protection and should be combined with measures such as physical distancing and hand hygiene.
Pellissippi State employee tests positive
Pellissippi State Community College was made aware July 2 that an employee has tested positive for COVID-19.
The employee was on campus Friday, June 26, at which time the employee was not showing any symptoms. The employee was on the second floor of the Goins Administration Building and in the facilities reception area on the Hardin Valley Campus.
The college has consulted with the Knox County Health Department and is following its recommendations. Pellissippi State has blocked off the areas for cleaning by its facilities staff, and notified all the people who were in extended contact with the employee on campus.
The Health Department has deemed this a low-risk exposure. The employee wore a mask and practiced social distancing while on campus. Because the virus only lives seven days on surfaces and the areas the employee visited will be cleaned, the Hardin Valley Campus will reopen to the limited number of employees and students who have appointments on Monday, July 6, as scheduled.