COVID-19 hits Nashville homeless shelter system

By Hannah Herner 
As of May 4, more than 100 people staying at homeless shelters throughout the city tested positive for COVID-19. There are currently 115 people quarantined in the “sick” building at the Fairgrounds Nashville emergency shelter. This is a combined number people who were already staying at the Fairgrounds as well as those who were staying at Nashville Rescue Mission’s downtown campus and at The Salvation Army. 

In a press conference on Monday morning, Dr. Alex Jahangir, chair of the metro coronavirus task force, said four positive cases at the Fairgrounds Nashville prompted comprehensive testing of all those staying there as well as at the Nashville Rescue Mission main campus, which was serving as a go-through to the Fairgrounds shelter. 

At the fairgrounds, there were 19 positive and 206 negative results. At Nashville Rescue Mission there were 395 tested, with 100 positive, nine indeterminate, 12 still pending and 274 negative. The Salvation Army had six guests who tested positive and were sent to the Fairgrounds Nashville emergency shelter for medical care. 
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One person who was staying at Nashville Rescue Mission is hospitalized. 


We will update this story as it develops.