NEW: Health officials confirm Sullivan County’s first case of COVID-19
UPDATE, 5:15 p.m.
Dr. Stephen May of the Sullivan County Regional Health Department said in a Tuesday news conference that the person in the county who tested positive for the COVID-19 or coronavirus was an international traveler and has been placed in isolation.
The medical director noted that the “senior” patient was showing symptoms when he returned home to Tennessee and his condition is improving.
May emphasized that there is no evidence of community spread and there is currently no threat to schools or the public.
“This is a time for people to be rational and calm,” he said.
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A statement posted by the Tennessee Department of Health says the first case of coronavirus or COVID-19 has been diagnosed in Sullivan County.
That brings the number to seven total cases in the Volunteer State. The announcement of the Sullivan County case comes as state health officials confirmed two more coronavirus cases in Middle Tennessee on midday Tuesday.
The news comes as East Tennessee State University ends all college-related international travel until later this year due to the virus and its spread in several countries.
