KNOXVILLE – Tennessee families and communities are on edge about the potential for infection from the novel coronavirus that is causing COVID-19, a respiratory illness that can cause non-specific or mild symptoms in some individuals to acute disease in others. The state’s first confirmed diagnosis was announced on March 5.

To allay concerns about the spread of the virus, University of Tennessee Extension has published a short primer on how to help prevent the infection from spreading. Designed in an easy-to-use two-page format, Common Sense Steps to Prevent Coronavirus Disease (UT Extension publication D 76) is available for download online at the UT Extension website: utextension.tennessee.edu. Interested readers can click on the “publications” link along the top menu bar then enter “coronavirus” in the search engine to download the free publication.

Lisa Washburn, an associate professor and community health specialist in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, developed the publication from multiple sources. She recommends that those interested in more details or who wish to follow the latest information about COVID-19 visit the websites for the Tennessee Department of Health (tngov/health) or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov).

Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. utia.tennessee.edu​.