Today marks day 365 of COVID-19 in Tennessee.
On March 5, 2020, the state confirmed its first reported case of COVID-19. It was a 44-year-old man in Williamson County outside Nashville.
FOX13 went to Williamson County that day. We found people just going about their daily lives while others were starting to stockpile supplies. “I think everyone knew sooner or later,” Williamson County resident Ron Simone said of the eventuality COVID would reach Tennessee.
The state said the first patient’s illness was mild and he was isolated at home.
“COVID-19 is not currently widespread in the United States, so no additional precautions are recommended for the general public to take beyond normal practices to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses,” the initial news release from the state said.
That warning did not include masks or social distancing. That advice would come later. So would an expanding list of symptoms and, of course, more cases in all places.