The Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) today announced new measures being taken to reduce the risk of COVID-19 to employees and the public. The measures are being taken at the direction of Nashville Director of Health Dr. Michael Caldwell.
One service that will be impacted are MPHD programs that provide home visits. MPHD will contact participants in those programs with further information on how we will proceed in the meantime. If an in-person meeting is required, families will be asked several questions about possible infection or exposure in the interest of MPHD employee safety.
The Women’s, Infants and Children’s Nutrition program (WIC) program is now conducting all services by telephone, including scheduling and holding appointments. WIC clients will be contacted for further direction.
The Lentz Dental Clinic is rescheduling appointments and will only offer emergency dental services. Patients are asked to call the clinic at 615-340-5601 to determine if emergency dental work is needed.
The new policies will be in place until it is safe for employees to go about their normal routines without risk of COVID-19 infection.
Extensive efforts are also being made at Metro Public Health Department facilities to ensure workers and the public are safe. Increased cleaning, rearranging of work stations and conference rooms, and the use of technology are all a part of the strategy being deployed to limit person-to-person contact and facilitate social distancing. Preparations also are being made to ensure the equipment and supplies needed to keep employees safe are available and in stock.
Additional measures to protect the public outside MPHD facilities are also being carried out by health department employees. Environmental Health Specialists are working to enforce the Public Health Emergency Declaration and Director’s Order 1 ordering the closure of bars and limiting capacity at restaurants. MPHD employees will be operating Nashville’s COVID-19 hotline. This is in addition to the ongoing work of reaching out to and monitoring the contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Davidson County.
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, people across Nashville are encouraged to take these preventative measures:
- Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds per wash using soap and water. If soap is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%-95% alcohol.
- Cover your cough or sneeze. The best practice is to cover it with a tissue and throw the tissue away. The inside of your arm is also acceptable to limit the spread of the illness.
- Keep a distance of at least six feet from people who are sick.
- Stay home if you are sick. Only leave for pre-arranged medical care.
- Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using household cleaner
For more information about COVID-19 visit: