Wayne County was shocked and saddened on Tuesday to learn of the passing of Billie Jo “BJ” Eaton, the first death in Wayne County attributed to the COVID-19 virus. BJ was a wife and mother, and a long-time employee of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office where she served in the position of Administrative Assistant.
The latest statistics from the Tennessee Department of Health on Monday, July 20th showed that Wayne County has had a total of 150 cases of COVID-19 so far. There are currently 70 active cases, and 80 have recovered.
A breakdown of the statewide statistics shows that most of the confirmed cases in Tennessee have been in the 21- to 30-year-old age range, but those over age 70 account for 81% of the deaths attributed to COVID-19. The statewide data goes on to show that only 1% of the confirmed cases have resulted in the death of the patient, and 92% have recovered without requiring hospitalization.
With COVID-19 cases on the rise, more people are opting to take part in drive-up coronavirus testing at the Wayne County Health Department. The Health Department is offering free testing from 9 to 11 am, Monday through Friday, in the parking lot of their facility on South Main Street in Waynesboro. No appointment is necessary; however, your wait for the test may be shortened if you call ahead and give your registration information. You may also wait until your arrival to register if you are unable to call ahead.
For more information on COVID-19 and statewide statistics, visit the Tennessee Department of Health website at www.tn.gov/health.
