The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a pandemic. Reported illnesses range from very mild to severe, including death. Agencies anticipate widespread transmission will occur in the U.S. in coming months and recommend social distancing among other measures to slow the spread. 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 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT daily.

A Gibson County resident has tested positive for coronavirus, marking rural West Tennessee's fifth reported case.

Gibson County officials announced the case, which has been confirmed by the Tennessee Department of Health, Friday morning.

The patient is recovering in isolation at home, according to a news release.

Three other rural West Tennessee counties announced positive cases Thursday, including:

Dyer County : two cases, including one adult who has fully recovered and one juvenile who is recovering in isolation at home

: two cases, including one adult who has fully recovered and one juvenile who is recovering in isolation at home Fayette County : one case of mild illness

: one case of mild illness Carroll County: one case of mild illness

Tennessee had 154 confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. Thursday, including 10 in nearby Shelby County, which declared a state of emergency Thursday.

More:Jackson Mayor declares local state of emergency for coronavirus, creates internal response team

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So far, no cases have been reported in Madison County, though the county has sent 19 samples to state testing labs. Ten tests have come back negative, while the others are still pending. Tests can take between two to three days to process.

Jackson Mayor Scott Conger declared a state of emergency on Monday. Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris will declare a state of emergency Friday morning.

What is coronavirus?

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that originated in China in December 2019. COVID-19 symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath. Symptoms can be severe, and some cases have caused death.

The virus can be spread from person to person. It is diagnosed with a laboratory test. There is no approved coronavirus vaccine yet, though the first tests of an experimental vaccine began Monday. Prevention involves frequent hand-washing, staying home when sick and social distancing.

President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency and encouraged people to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people.

About 247,400 cases have been confirmed worldwide as of Friday at 10:20 a.m., according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The virus has killed about 10,067 people.

About 14,250 cases have been reported in the United States.

Experts believe case numbers have been low due to lack of testing, and numbers should be expected to increase — potentially drastically — as tests become more available.

White House guidelines for coronavirus

If someone in your house has testified positive, keep the entire household at home. Do not go to work or school.

If you are an older person, stay home and away from other people.

Avoid discretionary travel, shopping trips and social visits.

Avoid eating or drinking in restaurants bars and food courts. Use drive-through, pickup and delivery options.

Do not visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless you are there to provide critical assistance.

If you work in a critical infrastructure industry defined by the Department of Homeland Security like healthcare services, pharmaceuticals and the food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule. You and your employer should follow CDC guidance to protect your health at work.

Practice good hygiene such as washing your hands, especially after touching frequently used items or surfaces. Avoid touching your face.

Reach Cassandra Stephenson at ckstephens@jacksonsun.com or at (731) 694-7261. Follow Cassandra on Twitter at @CStephenson731.