NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) —The Metro Public Health Department released new heat maps Tuesday, showing zip codes where clusters of coronavirus cases are under investigation. The maps reflect a large cluster in Nashville's homeless population, ongoing hot spots in the southeast, and a growing number of cases in northeast Nashville.
An emerging cluster of new cases has been traced back to the northeastern part of Davidson County. While speaking on the northeastern cluster, Metro Epidemiologist Leslie Waller said COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting workers in jobs ranging from warehousing to manufacturing to construction. While she would not share the names of exact businesses impacted, she noted these industries are bearing the brunt of the virus.
Waller expressed that additional clusters will not come as a surprise for the contact tracers at the health department. She insisted that Metro is working directly with people who have been in contact with those from the cluster areas.
“More clusters will happen, and if it does at your business, please don’t worry. You won’t be the first and you’re probably not going to be the last," Waller commented. "Our team at the health department will guide you through the response and recovery process.”
Businesses with a positive case of COVID-19 have been urged to notify the health department to determine next steps and a plan of action. In the meantime, the health department has asked Nashvillians to carefully consider who they come in contact with on a daily basis.
When the pandemic started, Metro Public Health had four contact tracers that has since expanded to 75 investigators. By the end of the week, the health department said they will have 125 people tracing the virus.
The number of coronavirus cases in Nashville has reached3,785, representing a spike of 86 cases in the past 24 hours. Nashville started phase one of its reopening plan Monday.