The CDC recommends taking simple, everyday steps to avoid catching or spreading respiratory diseases, including the coronavirus, COVID-19. These include covering your cough or sneeze, disinfecting commonly used surfaces, and thoroughly washing or sanitizing your hands. Call your doctor if you feel sick, and stay home if you are sick. Get more information at CDC.gov/coronavirus.

As the number of reported cases of the coronavirus reached at least nine across Tennessee, residents have braced for the impact, including school closures and a possible hit to the state economy.

After facing backlash for not releasing cases by county, the Tennessee Department of Health rolled back its decision Tuesday evening and released information about the coronavirus cases with a breakdown by county.

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The USA TODAY Network newsrooms in Tennessee are uniquely positioned to track the effects of coronavirus in the U.S. as they spread across the state.

We'll have the latest news and updates here.

NCAA tournament games will not be played in front of fans

The NCAA announced the men's and women's basketball tournaments will be held as scheduled, but without fans present.

"While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States," NCAA President Mark Emmert said. "This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes.”

More: NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments will not include fans due to coronavirus concerns

Tennessee has 9 detected cases of the coronavirus

The Tennessee Department of Health on Wednesday announced there were 9 presumptive cases of the coronavirus in Tennessee.

The state has performed 68 tests so far in the state lab, with 61 negative results, according to data released Wednesday afternoon. Two positive results were tested at private labs, a signal that they are now starting to test for the virus.

Here's the breakdown of where those cases are from:

Williamson County: 5

Davidson County: 2

Shelby County: 1

Sullivan County: 1

Eighth case detected in Tennessee

A Tennessee man has tested positive for the eighth coronavirus case in the state and the second in Nashville, according Nashville Metro Health Department spokesman Brian Todd.

The man is isolated at home with mild symptoms.

World Health Organization declares pandemic

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic as the global death toll rose above 4,300 and the number of confirmed cases exceeded 120,000.

"We have rung the alarm bill loud and clear, Tefros said at a news conference, adding that "all countries can still change the course of this pandemic."

The U.S. death toll climbed to 31 and the number of U.S. cases rolled past 1,000, federal health officials said. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told a congressional committee the virus has spread to at least 38 states.

“Right now the epicenter – the new China – is Europe,” Redfield said. “And there’s a lot of people coming back and forth from Europe that are now starting to seed these communities.”

More: Coronavirus has been declared a pandemic: What does that mean and what took so long?

Tennessee has conducted 57 COVID-19 tests

The Tennessee state laboratory has tested 57 people for the novel coronavirus, according to the state department of health.

Of those, 50 tested negative and the other seven make up the previously known cases in Tennessee.

On Monday, Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said the state had enough material to test 165 people. At that time, the state had tested 49 people, Piercey said Monday afternoon.

Private labs and hospitals were expected to begin conducting tests this week, but state officials have released little new information about the timetable for such tests to be available to the public.

State to release infected counties

The Tennessee Department of Health released the counties where the seven infected people reside on Tuesday evening. Four of seven of those who have tested positive for the coronavirus live in Williamson County. Here's the current count:

Davidson: 1

Shelby: 1

Sullivan: 1

Williamson: 4

Schools close out of caution, concern

On Tuesday, Battle Ground Academy and Williamson County Schools announced closures. BGA shuttered classrooms for the rest of the week, and WCS closed for its fourth day Wednesday.

Both schools have concerns of possible contamination, after a Brentwood parent tested positive for the virus. The parent told the WCS district late Monday that they had visited a school prior to that diagnosis, the district said in a statement on social media.

At BGA, the parent of a student was the first person in the state to test positive for the virus, after he returned to Tennessee from a trip to Boston.

Universities move to online classes

Belmont University, a private Christian college, announced it was extending the school spring break amid ongoing global concerns of the coronavirus.

Nearly 75% of the student body is not local, the university president said, so the break extension was a precaution against potential exposure.

When break ends on March 23, classes will be online only for at least two weeks.

Vanderbilt University announced Monday it was canceling classes for the rest of the week and is considering moving classes online for the rest of the semester in response to rising concerns about the spread of coronavirus.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Coronavirus in Tennessee latest news: Nine cases confirmed statewide, NCAA to play games without fans