Four People Test Positive for COVID-19 at Temporary Homeless Shelter

At a Wednesday morning press briefing, Metro officials revealed that four guests of the temporary homeless shelter at the Fairgrounds Nashville have tested positive for COVID-19. Another 13 are in self-isolation, and tests have been ordered for the 198 shelter guests plus the staff today — a total of 220 tests.

Metro Coronavirus Task Force Chairman Dr. Alex Jahangir said officials learned of the "possible isolated outbreak" late Tuesday night when four individuals began to exhibit symptoms. They were later moved into a self-isolation area and tested. They had been screened for symptoms prior to entering the shelter, a requirement for all guests, but were asymptomatic at the time.

"We believe these people did not get the virus at the shelter," said Jahangir.

There are three temporary facilities: one site for general overflow, another for people awaiting test results, and a third for people who test positive. The first two are on Fairgrounds property, but Jahangir declined to reveal the location of the last site. He did say, however, that cots were already set up there. Jahangir also added that the testing is voluntary.

Jahangir said the medical team moved quickly to identify, test and isolate the immediate contacts of the individuals who tested positive, and that testing all the guests and staff was a precautionary measure. There is no plan to do a deep cleaning of the site, but that could change after the test results arrive.

One other guest of the shelter tested positive earlier in April. Jahangir said two other people at the shelter had previously tested negative.

The temporary shelter is designed to reduce dense crowding, especially at the Nashville Rescue Mission. Guidelines to prevent spreading COVID-19 include isolation and social distancing — a challenge in congregate living spaces like shelters.

Some cities, like Los Angeles, have established similar facilities to prevent overcrowding and to allow people with the virus to self-isolate, and have also undertaken efforts to convert motels and empty college dorms into temporary shelters for the homeless.

Update, 3:45 p.m.: The Office of Emergency Management tells the Scene that the Fairgrounds shelter will suspend admissions while testing guests and staff for COVID-19. Admissions are expected to resume by Monday, May 4. 

Joseph Pleasant, a spokesperson for the office, says that testing is expected to be completed by the end of Wednesday, and that Metro public health director Dr. Michael C. Caldwell will visit the shelter. No new cases have emerged since this morning.

Pleasant also elaborates on the set-up of the facilities, which will be operating under their usual capacity to accommodate social distancing. For example, the facility for people who test positive for COVID-19 will host 100 people, based on what the public health department has approved (the building can usually accommodate more 3,000 people). Pleasant adds that the sites have partitions and that guests will be spread out.

Local advocates have also responded to this morning’s news, especially regarding the use of aggregate sheltering.

Open Table Nashville, a nonprofit designed to help people experiencing homeless, says in a  statement:

"We appreciate the resources Metro has been providing to our friends who are experiencing homelessness, but we have grave concerns about how they are managing the shelters at the Fairgrounds and the overall response to COVID-19 and homelessness. For over a month, Open Table Nashville and other advocates have been vocal about our concerns that the shelters at the Fairgrounds are not following CDC guidelines and FEMA recommendations. These guidelines state that non-congregate facilities like motels, hotels, and dorms should be used for people who are symptomatic, awaiting testing, positive for COVID-19, and at high risk. Instead, Metro has continued to operate congregate shelters with little transparency about what protocols and procedures they are using to keep people safe. This not only puts the lives of shelter guests and staff in jeopardy, but it also has the potential to tie up more hospital and ICU beds in Nashville because many of the people we serve have chronic health issues and are immunocompromised.”

Metro Councilmember Freddie O’Connell, who sits on the Homelessness Planning Council, was also critical of the city’s current shelter efforts.“Today’s news about a COVID-19 outbreak at the Fairgrounds shelter for Nashvillians experiencing homelessness is alarming,” O’Connell says in a statement to the Scene.

“Guidance at the federal and state levels discourages congregate sheltering. I’m most astonished by the administration failing to consult the Homelessness Planning Council, although maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. The administration ignored guidance from the HPC during our emergency weather period this past winter. We have qualified, compassionate providers in our community, and I wish we would honor them by heeding—or even just soliciting—their guidance.”

The Office of Emergency Management says there are currently no efforts to find motel or hotel rooms for people experiencing homelessness.

Additional reporting by Kara Hartnett.