Hopkins County has a fourth fatality related to COVID-19 and Public Health Director Denise Beach says the 42 confirmed cases of coronavirus are likely just the ‘tip of the iceberg.’
Beach says the most recent death was a senior adult and that additional positive tests were coming in Friday morning. She says total direct contacts of patients in Hopkins County likely number in the hundreds and she pleaded for residents to stay at home and comply with social distancing directives.
She says there are multiple people exhibiting some symptoms who have not been tested, as they are riding out the illness in isolation at home.
Madisonville Mayor Kevin Cotton has issued an executive order restricting the number of people going into stores to one person per shopping cart. He says an exception will be made when it’s a single-parent family, but the message is that families shouldn’t be shopping for recreation.
Law enforcement reported no issues after the first night of a curfew for juveniles, though the mayor said it’s not intended as permission for kids to congregate against social distancing guidelines during the day.
The mayor and Judge-Executive Jack Whitfield praised Tyson for donating to foodbanks and other entities and to Lowes for donating 400 masks to medical personnel and first responders.