UPDATE: Tennessee coronavirus cases rise from 18 to 26

March 12, 2020 at 4:16 p.m. | Updated March 14, 2020 at 4:42 a.m.

by Sarah Grace Taylor

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. The sample was isolated from a patient in the U.S. (NIAID-RML via AP)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. The sample was isolated from a patient in the U.S. (NIAID-RML via AP)

For answers to frequently asked questions about the coronavirus, click here.

UPDATE: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state increased to 26 on Friday from Thursday's total of 18, according to the Tennessee Department of Health's daily virus update.

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The number of cases of COVID-19, the deadly respiratory virus affecting people worldwide, in Tennessee doubled Thursday, bringing the number to 18 confirmed cases.

According to the Tennessee Department of Health's daily update, the number went from 9 to 18 between Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, the same day Gov. Bill Lee declared a state of emergency in Tennessee.

Though there are no confirmed cases in Hamilton or any surrounding county, the increased number of cases and looming threat of the virus has spurred a rash of schools and colleges closing across the state to prevent further spread.

Hamilton County Officials will host a press conference late Thursday afternoon to address concerns of the virus locally.

This is a developing story.

Contact Sarah Grace Taylor at staylor@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6416. Follow her on Twitter @sarahgtaylor.

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