The risk for most people of being exposed to the coronavirus (COVID-19) is low, according to the CDC, but simple, everyday steps can reduce the chance of catching or spreading respiratory diseases including COVID-19. These include covering your cough or sneeze and thoroughly washing or sanitizing your hands. Call your doctor and stay home if you are sick. Get more information at CDC.gov/coronavirus or contact the Tennessee Department of Health coronavirus information line at 877-857-2945 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily).

The spread of coronavirus in Tennessee has forced hospitals to drastically restrict the number of visitors allowed on hospital grounds to see friends and family.

Large hospitals in the Nashville area are screening visitors at the front door, limiting patients to just one visitor and, in some cases, not allowing children to visit at all.

The most severe restrictions were adopted at Williamson Medical Center, a hospital in Franklin where the first positive sample of coronavirus was collected last week. The hospital has enacted a strict "no visitors" policy with limited exceptions for new mothers and people who are undergoing surgery.

Medical Center spokeswoman Nichole Volk said in a written statement that the hospital felt it needed to be more proactive than other facilities because it is a "hub in the community" where people gather for meetings or meals even if they aren’t sick.

"This was a very difficult step to take but we are dealing with an ever-changing situation," Volk said. "At Williamson Medical Center, our priority is the safety and health of our patients and our staff. We are continuously evaluating all guidelines and procedures and adjusting as needed on a daily basis."

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, a deadly virus that originated in China and since swept the world, has been detected in at least eight Tennessee residents. The virus is deadlier than the flu but spread similarly, and medical experts have advised the public to take commonsense steps to protect themselves: wash your hands, try not to touch your face and, if you get stick, stay home and call your doctor.

TriStar restricts entrances, Saint Thomas bars kids

The spread of the virus has also led other hospital to clamp down on visitors.

TriStar, which has 10 hospitals in the Nashville area, has closed all entrances to its hospitals beside the main entrance and the emergency room. It also requires everyone to be checked for illness and go through a three-question screening process before being allowed inside.

Saint Thomas-Ascension, which also has multiple hospitals in Nashville, is limiting visitors to "as few as possible" and forbidding visitors who have flu-like symptoms or are under the age of 14, spokeswoman Michelle Heard said.

Heard said these protocols had been put in place by infection control specialists who were working closely with the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and public health officials.

"The health and safety of patients and associates are always our top priorities," Heard said.

Similar restrictions have been adopted by Maury Regional Health, which runs hospitals in Columbia, Lewisburg and Waynesboro. In news release, the hospital company said it would limit visits to one "immediate family member or primary support person."

In Memphis, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is limiting visitors to only those who have been screened for travel history and evidence of possible illness. The hospital is specifically barring visitors who have traveled to Seattle or Tacoma, Washington, the state where the virus has been deadliest.

Veterans hospitals were also making minor changes. The U.S. Department of Veterans affairs issued an online statement asking anyone who felt ill to postpone their visit to hospitals. The Tennessee Valley HealthCare System, which runs veterans hospitals in Nashville and Murfreesboro, said on its website it has placed limitations on some visitors but did not provide details.

Brett Kelman is the health care reporter for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 615-259-8287 or at brett.kelman@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter at @brettkelman.