What is a novel coronavirus?
A coronavirus consists of a large group of viruses that have a variety of symptoms ranging from mild to severe and are common in humans. If a new coronavirus is identified, it is called “novel”. The common cold is an example of a known coronavirus. COVID-19 is not the same as most coronaviruses.
Click on the links below for educational videos from WHO:
WHO: Coronavirus – questions and answers (Q&A)
The Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 FAQ page states, “On February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak, first identified in Wuhan China. The new name of this disease is coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19. In COVID-19, ‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as “2019 novel coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV”.”
How can I prevent the spread of COVID-19
COVID-19 spreads from infected person to non-infected person who are within 6 feet of each other and via respiratory droplets from spitting, coughing, or sneezing. Though it is less likely, the illness can be spread from people who are not yet showing symptoms. The illness can also be spread from a surface or object and then your face.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following:
- Wash your hands after contact with people or animals
- Use alcohol based hand sanitizer when hand washing is not an immediate option
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth, or face
- Cover mouth and nose when coughing/sneezing with a tissue or the crook of your elbow
- Avoid close contact with those who are at risk
- Ensure animal products are cooked thoroughly
- Call your Primary Care Physician if you have the following symptoms
- Fever (above 99°F)
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
How will APMS be a part of the solution?
Our Medical Director has released a policy for this pandemic to include the following actions:
- Provide educational material for patients and staff
- Install sneeze/cough guards at check in and check out
- Record the temperature of all patients at check in and seclude those who have a temperature over 99°F
- Provide masks to patients exhibiting symptoms
- Provide sanitizing wipes and gel throughout the clinic
- Encourage patients and staff to either stay home if possible
- Report potential cases to local and state health departments as well as the Primary Care Physician for the affected person
- Local –
- 931-528-2531
- 701 County Services Dr., Cookeville, TN 38501
- 7:30 A – 4:30 P M – F
- State –
- Public info: 877-857-2945
- Main: 615-741-2584
- 665 Mainstreams Dr., Nashville, TN 37243
- 10 A – 10 P CST Daily
- Local –
Additional Resources
Tennessee Department of Health:
- Click here to be redirected to the TN Dept of Health Coronavirus Disease web page
- Click here to be redirected to the TN Weekly Situation Summary
- COVID-19 is a a reportable disease in Tennessee
- COVID-19 public information number
- 877-857-2945
- available 10a-10p CST daily
- No reported positive cases in Putnam or Jackson Co
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Click here to be redirected to the CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) web page
- How COVID-19 Spreads
- Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings
World Health Organization
- Click here for Coronavirus web page
- Click here for Situation reports
- Click here for Coronavirus outbreak web page
- Click here for Rolling updates on coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
- March 11, 2020 – WHO characterizes COVID-19 as a pandemic
- March 09, 2020 – “The rule of the game is: never give up.”
- March 08, 2020 – Interim guidance on critical preparedness, readiness and response actions
- March 07, 2020 – Marking 100,00 cases
- March 06, 2020 – WHO publishes draft R&D blueprint draft for COVID-19
- March 05, 2020 – “The whole government should be involved”
- March 04, 2020 – “This is unprecedented”
- March 03, 2020 – Shortage of PPE endangering health workers worldwide
- March 02, 2020 – “There’s no choice but to act now”
- March 02, 2020 – Mission of WHO experts arrive in Iran
- March 01, 2020 – UN releases US $15 million for COVID-19 response
- February 28, 2020 – What every individual can do to protect themselves and others
- February 27, 2020 – What every country should be asking itself
- February 26, 2020 – Get your workplace ready for COVID-19
- February 26, 2020 – #AskWHO about COVID-19
- February 25, 2020 – Do your part to stop stigma and combat COVID-19
- February 25, 2020 – WHO-China joint mission shares findings and recommendations
- February 24, 2020 – WHO-led team of experts travel to Italy
- February 24, 2020 – UN Secretary-General visits WHO
- February 22, 2020 – WHO leaders address AU and Africa CDC Emergency Meeting
- February 22, 2020 – 11,000 African health care workers have been trained on COVID-19
- February 21, 2020 – Special envoys on COVID-19 selected
- February 21, 2020 – WHO Director-General warns that the window of opportunity is “narrowing
- February 18, 2020 – WHO and countries are engaged in massive preparedness activities
- February 17, 2020 – WHO issues guidance on mass gathering and taking care of ill travelers
- February 15, 2020 – WHO Director-General calls for solidarity at Munich Security Conference
- February 12, 2020 – UN activates WHO-led Crisis Management Team
- February 12, 2020 – Research and innovation forum sets priorities for COVID-19 research
- February 11, 2020 – Novel coronavirus disease named COVID-19
- February 05, 2020 – Global community asks for US $675 million to help protect vulnerable countries from outbreak
- January 30, 2020 – Public Health Emergency of International Concern declared
- January 28, 2020 – WHO and China leaders meet in Beijing to discuss coronavirus outbreak
- January 25, 2020 – Launch of free online introductory course on the novel coronavirus
- January 23, 2020 – First meeting of Emergency Committee regarding the novel coronavirus outbreak
- January 21, 2020 – WHO makes field visit to Wuhan, China
- January 13, 2020 – First case of novel coronavirus outside of China confirmed
- January 12, 2020 – China makes genome sequencing of novel coronavirus publicly available
- January 10, 2020 – WHO issues its first guidance on the novel coronavirus
- January 05, 2020 – WHO reports on pneumonia of unknown cause in China
- January 04, 2020 – WHO responding to a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan
- December 31, 2019 – Pneumonia of unknown cause reported to WHO China Office