Knox County Health Officer Dr. Alan Stewart says the majority of Knox County cases have involved work or travel to/from other counties. For that reason, he continues to discourage local residents from travelling outside of the county, if at all possible. Dr. Stewart strongly believes the Health Department’s strict two week quarantine period for all diagnosed patients is aiding in the prevention of a community break out of COVID-19 within Knox County. This also includes isolating contacts of diagnosed patients for a two week period. These guidelines exceed the CDC recommendations. Stewart says his research has shown that patients can continue to shed the virus for several days after recovering from symptoms, and as a result could infect other people they come in contact with. Dr. Stewart adds that the longer confinement could very well be making the difference in keeping Knox County’s case count low compared to other counties.
Meanwhile, the State Department of Health has agreed to not include a presumptive case in the Knox County COVID-19 statistics, leaving their total case count at 22 and not 23 as reported yesterday and early today. The Knox County Health Department said the latest patient had tested negative over three tests, but was still being treated as a presumptive case. The patient has recovered and was released from quarantine today. There are two active cases in quarantine at this time in Knox County one patient who is set to be released this weekend and the patient who was diagnosed yesterday.
