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The Carter County Health Department is investigating a COVID-19 case associated with the Carter County Courthouse Annex. Public health workers have notified everyone identified as a high-risk close contact of the patient. Others who visited the annex on June 15, 16 or 17 are believed to be at low risk of exposure to COVID-19, but should monitor their health during the 14 days after their visit.

Symptoms to watch for include fever, cough or shortness of breath. Other possible symptoms may be chills, body aches, sore throat, headache, runny nose, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. Anyone who visited the Carter County Courthouse Annex from June 15-17 who develop symptoms by July 1 should notify their health care provider and get tested for COVID-19.

COVID-19 testing continues to be available at the Carter County Health Department located at 403 East G Street in Elizabethton. The Carter County Health Department conducts testing from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. Those wishing to be tested should contact the health department at 423-543-2521 to complete a brief registration by phone prior to arriving on site.

The health department will conduct nasal swab collection and test results may be available within 72 hours, depending on the volume of tests that the testing lab receives.

There are many things everyone in the community can do to reduce the impact of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water (or alcohol-based hand rub) for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing;
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
• Stay home when you are sick;
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with your arm or a tissue;
• Clean and disinfect objects (e.g., cell phone, computer) and high touch surfaces regularly;
• Practice social/physical distancing by staying at least six feet away from anyone outside of your household;
• Wear a mask in public and work settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

All Tennesseans, especially those in high-risk populations, should take the following actions to reduce the possibility of getting sick with COVID-19:

• Keep space (at least 6’) between yourself and others;
• Limit your time in public to essential needs only, such as grocery trips, medical care, pharmacy needs or emergencies;
• When you are in public, avoid crowds as much as possible, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often;
• Avoid non-essential travel, especially on airlines and cruise ships; and,
• Stay home as much as possible to reduce your risk of being exposed.

Those with questions about COVID-19 may contact the Northeast Tennessee Regional COVID-19 Information Line at 423-979-4689. The Information Line is staffed Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.