Oak Ridge Today

AC EMS responds to suspected COVID-19 cases, call volume drops

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Photo courtesy Anderson County EMS

As of Tuesday, Anderson County Emergency Medical Services had responded to more than 40 suspected COVID-19 calls since mid-March, Director Nathan Sweet said last week.

As of Tuesday, only one patient transported by Anderson County EMS had tested positive for COVID-19, Sweet said.

The suspected COVID-19 calls have come from across Anderson County: Oak Ridge, Norris, Clinton, Rocky Top, Marlow, Medford—”really just about anywhere in the county,” Sweet said.

The suspected COVID-19 calls are being screened by 911 emergency call centers in Anderson County, Clinton, and Oak Ridge to better prepare emergency responders before they arrive at the call site.

“If they meet any of the screening criteria, our crews are responding in appropriate personal protective equipment as a precaution for safety,” Sweet said.

[Read more…]

Drive-through testing starts for COVID-19

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Free drive-through testing for COVID-19 started Wednesday morning, April 15, 2020, in the Oak Ridge High School parking lot. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 2:55 p.m.

Drive-through testing for COVID-19 started Wednesday morning in Oak Ridge.

The free testing is being offered by the City of Oak Ridge and Kroger Health. It’s scheduled from Wednesday, April 15, to Friday, April 17, in the Oak Ridge High School parking lot near Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Before testing began Wednesday morning, about 200 appointments had been scheduled over a three-day period, the City of Oak Ridge said.

Up to 250 people can be tested at the drive-through station each day. You do not need to be an Oak Ridge citizen to get tested, the city said.

[Read more…]

County asks you to bring only household garbage to convenience centers, landfill

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The convenience center on Warehouse Road in east Oak Ridge is pictured above on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Anderson County is asking you to bring only household garbage to convenience centers and the Chestnut Ridge landfill for now as the volume of waste increases while more people are staying at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The request comes as the stay-at-home order issued by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Thursday, April 2, remains in effect through at least Tuesday, April 14.

In a press release, Geoff Trabalka, supervisor of Anderson County Solid Waste Management, said many residents have extra time because of the stay-at-home order, and some are trying to make the most of that extra time by cleaning homes, making repairs, and working in yards, among other activities.

“All of these activities produce a large quantity of added material to the waste stream,” the press release said. “In the last two weeks, Anderson County has seen an extreme increase in waste being brought to its convenience centers, and to the Chestnut Ridge Landfill, particularly on Saturdays. This has raised the volume of garbage being hauled to 1.5 to 2 times the normal volume. Yard waste and bulk waste items like furniture and appliances are a great portion of that increase.”

[Read more…]

First COVID-19 death reported in Anderson County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 11:20 a.m.

The Tennessee Department of Health on Wednesday reported the first death of a COVID-19 patient in Anderson County.

No information has been released about the patient.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of the individual who succumbed to COVID-19,” Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said. “I had sincerely hoped we would not have suffered a death in our community, and I am deeply sorry for that individual.”

COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness that can be deadly.

Frank said testing continues to increase, but the positive results seem to have stabilized. Anderson County held at 10 cases for seven days (March 31-April 6) and ticked up by one to 11 cases on April 7, even as testing continued to climb, Frank said.

[Read more…]

Six of 10 COVID-19 patients in Anderson County have recovered, mayor says

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Six of the 10 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Anderson County had recovered as of April 3 (Friday), Mayor Terry Frank said Sunday.

The number of cases in Anderson County has remained at 10 for six straight days.

There have been no deaths in Anderson County due to COVID-19, according to the local and state health departments.

AC Health Department offering COVID-19 assessments

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Health Department is offering COVID-19 assessments, Mayor Terry Frank said Wednesday.

People who think they may have COVID-19 symptoms can call the health department at (865) 425-8801 and receive a consultation and talk about possible testing options in the area.

“If you are ill and experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever and cough, shortness of breath, or breathing problems), it is recommended you call either your health care provider or the health department first so they can arrange for your arrival to minimize the risk of exposing others to an illness,” Frank said.

[Read more…]

Courthouse using one entrance; Senior Center closed through April 24

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson County Courthouse
The Anderson County Courthouse on Main Street in Clinton is pictured above. (File photo)

Only one entrance is open at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton, and the Anderson County Senior Center is closed through April 24.

The changes are part of the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Anderson County government is providing government services to our citizens, but doing so with necessary precautions in place to protect employees and the citizens we serve,” said a press release from the office of Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank.

“The public is strongly encouraged to call for the assistance they need instead of person-to-person visits at the Courthouse,” the press release said. “Most needs can be met electronically, via fax, or telephone. Citizens are strongly encouraged to limit their visits to the Courthouse. It is extremely important that citizens who are sick and in need of assistance should remain at home and call for assistance.”

The following changes have been made at county offices:

[Read more…]

AC Courthouse closed after UT Ag Extension employee tests positive for COVID-19

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton is closed today (Monday, March 23) after an employee in the University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension Office tested positive for the COVID-19 virus on Sunday.

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank was notified of the positive diagnosis late Sunday afternoon, a press release said.

Monday’s closure only affects the Courthouse, and it is not a full closure of county government operations. Other county government offices—for example, the Jolley Building, old DARC building (on Emory Valley Road in Oak Ridge), the Animal Shelter, and the recycling center—will continue to operate with modifications in place, according to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, and the Tennessee Department of Health, the press release said. Visit www.anderson-county.com for up to date information on operations.

The one-day closure will give Anderson County’s Buildings and Grounds team time to disinfect the building more heavily than what is already being done, the press release said.

[Read more…]

COVID-19 confirmed in Anderson County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The first case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Anderson County, according to the office of Mayor Terry Frank.

The Anderson County Health Department told Frank and Steve Payne, director of the Emergency Management Agency, about the first confirmed diagnosis.

According to the Health Department, the patient has self-isolated and the Health Department is currently engaged in education and tracing the person’s contacts. The Anderson County Health Department cannot release any further information about the patient, including a more precise location within Anderson County, a press release said.

[Read more…]

Presidential primary is today in Tennessee

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The presidential and county primary elections are today in Tennessee.

It’s Super Tuesday, and voters in 14 states, including Tennessee, will help select the Democratic Party nominee for president. More than 1,300 delegates are at stake.

Candidates still running for president in the Democratic primary are former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii.

Other candidates appear on the ballot, but they have ended or suspended their campaigns. That includes candidates who have dropped out in the past few days: Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Tom Steyer.

[Read more…]

Current risk of coronavirus is low, but schools, health dept. provide info

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The immediate risk of the coronavirus in the United States is believed to be low, but Oak Ridge Schools, Anderson County Schools, and the Anderson County Health Department are providing information to help respond to the emerging public health threat.

“Oak Ridge Schools is committed to keeping our students and staff safe and are currently working to determine the appropriate steps to address the potential coronavirus outbreak,” the school system said in a message sent to staff members on Friday afternoon. “We are communicating with the Anderson County Health Department to attain the latest information and recommendations from federal, state, and local authorities.”

Oak Ridge Schools said it will use that information to create a plan to keep students and staff safe.

“Staff, students, and parents will receive information regarding a coronavirus plan should the implementation of such action become necessary,” the message said.

The school system said it will communicate with students, staff, and parents about the importance of consistently practicing these recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

[Read more…]

Guidebook highlights Oak Ridge’s natural assets

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Natural Assets Guidebook
Image by Legacy Parks Foundation

A new guidebook highlights Oak Ridge’s natural assets.

The “Oak Ridge Natural Assets Guidebook” by Legacy Parks Foundation is a collaborative project created at the request of the City of Oak Ridge, Roane County, and Anderson County civic and business leaders, a press release said. It’s in response to recommendations from the Oak Ridge Blueprint Plan that urged the exploration of both recreational opportunities and enhancement of the area’s natural assets.

“The Guidebook is intended to be a living, working document that will serve as a philosophical and practical set of guidelines for how to maximize the area’s natural assets so that they provide a sustainable foundation to engage residents, promote wellness, attract tourism, and increase economic development,” said Carol Evans, executive director of Legacy Parks Foundation.

The Guidebook identifies natural assets and related opportunities on public land in Oak Ridge, including U.S. Department of Energy land, but it does not consider future uses of that land for mission-related or growth purposes, Evans said.

[Read more…]