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Mayor: Monroe County sees first COVID-19-related death

Mayor Mitch Ingram posted about the death Wednesday on Facebook.

Monroe County has marked its first COVID-19-related death, according to Mayor Mitch Ingram.

The person's name and age weren't released in the Facebook post Wednesday by Ingram.

"We are profoundly saddened to receive confirmation today of the first COVID-19 fatality in Monroe County," the mayor's post reads. "Particular segments of our community, those with pre-existing medical conditions and the elderly, are at a much higher risk for serious symptoms from the coronavirus that may ultimately prove fatal."

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The Tennessee Department of Health doesn't yet show a death on its website for the county from the highly contagious virus, but there's often a data lag.

"We will continue to take protective action by further informing these vulnerable populations of their risks. We encourage our healthy residents to consider the potential cost of the virus’ spread. This is a heartbreaking development, but we can prevent future fatalities by each of us taking personal responsibility in following the recommendations set by the CDC, Ingram's post reads.

"I call on all of our residents to please pray for the victim’s family during this difficult time and to continue doing everything possible to prevent the additional spread of COVID-19."

As of Wednesday, 135 people had died as a result of the virus in Tennessee. More than 6,000 people have tested positive in the state.

In Monroe County, there have been 9 positive cases and 6 recoveries, state figures show.

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