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AC Clerk, Trustee’s offices drive-through only temporarily starting Monday

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Public encouraged to use online options

The Oak Ridge offices of the Anderson County Clerk and Trustee will be temporarily closed to in-person transactions starting Monday for construction to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Anderson County Clerk’s and Trustee’s main offices in Clinton and Andersonville are not affected by this temporary closure to the public, a press release said. The
offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

While the Oak Ridge offices will be closed to in-person service, employees will still be available to serve customers at the drive-through location in Oak Ridge, the press release said. It’s located at 728c Emory Valley Road in Oak Ridge. It will be open
for renewals only from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, residents can drop off title work and park in a space to wait while the paperwork is processed and returned to them, the press release said. The Trustee’s Office staff will continue to collect property tax payments at the Oak Ridge drive-through and accept calls to make appointments for the tax relief and freeze program, the press release said.

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Oak Ridge Council to meet online Monday

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The Oak Ridge City Council will meet electronically on Monday, rather than in-person, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Monday.

Council members will be able to participate by video and audio conferencing. It will be streamed online on the city’s website and broadcast on Comcast Channel 12.

The city asked residents to watch the meeting online or on television because of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s executive orders that limit public gatherings to help prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

“Meeting electronically and limiting in-person access to the meeting is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare in light of COVID-19,” the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

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December: 2,500 COVID cases, 43 deaths, 43 hospitalizations

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Anderson County reported more than 2,500 new cases of COVID-19 in December and 43 deaths and 43 hospitalizations.

It was the worst month of the pandemic by far, part of a statewide surge after the Thanksgiving holiday.

The number of deaths reported in December (43) exceeded all previous months combined and was more than triple the number of deaths in November (13). Until December, November had been the worst month of the pandemic.

The overall fatality rate, comparing total deaths to total cases since the pandemic began, rose to roughly 1.3 percent in December.

About 3.3 percent of Anderson County’s roughly 77,000 residents were infected with COVID-19 in December, when 2,524 new cases were reported. Roughly 7.3 percent of the county’s residents have tested positive for COVID since the pandemic began March 20.

About 38 percent of the county’s total 113 hospitalizations since March were reported in December, when 43 hospitalizations were reported.

The number of new cases reported in December accounted for about 45 percent of all COVID-19 cases reported in the county since the pandemic began more than nine months ago.

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Anderson County reported more than 2,500 new cases of COVID-19 in December and 43 deaths and 43 hospitalizations.

It was the worst month of the pandemic by far, part of a statewide surge after the Thanksgiving holiday.

The number of deaths reported in December (43) exceeded all previous months combined and was more than triple the number of deaths in November (13). Until December, November had been the worst month of the pandemic.

The overall fatality rate, comparing total deaths to total cases since the pandemic began, rose to roughly 1.3 percent in December.

About 3.3 percent of Anderson County’s roughly 77,000 residents were infected with COVID-19 in December, when 2,524 new cases were reported. Roughly 7.3 percent of the county’s residents have tested positive for COVID since the pandemic began March 20.

About 38 percent of the county’s total 113 hospitalizations since March were reported in December, when 43 hospitalizations were reported.

The number of new cases reported in December accounted for about 45 percent of all COVID-19 cases reported in the county since the pandemic began more than nine months ago.

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Lee limits indoor public gatherings, indoor sports attendance

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Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed an order last week that limits indoor public gatherings, with some exceptions, to fewer than 10 people. The governor also limited attendance at indoor sporting events in coordination with the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association. And he asked business owners to let employees work from home for the next 30 days.

Many people wondered if the governor would issue a mask mandate. He did not.

Lee asked people to focus on two actions in the next 30 days: only gather with people in your home, and wear a mask.

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Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed an order last week that limits indoor public gatherings, with some exceptions, to fewer than 10 people. The governor also limited attendance at indoor sporting events in coordination with the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association. And he asked business owners to let employees work from home for the next 30 days.

Many people wondered if the governor would issue a mask mandate. He did not.

Lee asked people to focus on two actions in the next 30 days: only gather with people in your home, and wear a mask.

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Proposal to close courthouse offices for COVID sent to committee

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Anderson County Courthouse

A proposal to temporarily close Anderson County Courthouse offices to the public because of COVID-19 and to have much business conducted remotely was referred to a committee last week.

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Anderson County Courthouse

A proposal to temporarily close Anderson County Courthouse offices to the public because of COVID-19 and to have much business conducted remotely was referred to a committee last week.

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Oak Ridge, TN 37831

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More than 700 school-aged children have had COVID in AC

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More than 700 school-aged children have tested positive for COVID-19 in Anderson County since the pandemic began March 20, and the growth in cases among children 5-18 years old is accelerating, according to state data.

It’s not clear what long-term effects, if any, COVID-19 might have on children.

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More than 700 school-aged children have tested positive for COVID-19 in Anderson County since the pandemic began March 20, and the growth in cases among children 5-18 years old is accelerating, according to state data.

It’s not clear what long-term effects, if any, COVID-19 might have on children.

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In two weeks, AC reports 1,500 COVID cases, 17 deaths, 22 hospitalizations

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In the past two weeks, Anderson County has reported more than 1,500 new cases of COVID-19, according to state data. The county has also reported 17 deaths and 22 hospitalizations in those 14 days.

About 2 percent of the county’s roughly 77,000 residents tested positive for COVID-19 in those two weeks, and almost 7 percent of the population has been infected since the pandemic began March 20.

The positivity rate in the county is very high, almost 20 percent.

There have been more new cases, deaths, and hospitalizations in the past two weeks than in any previous month, including November, which, until recently, had been the worst month of the pandemic.

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In the past two weeks, Anderson County has reported more than 1,500 new cases of COVID-19, according to state data. The county has also reported 17 deaths and 22 hospitalizations in those 14 days.

About 2 percent of the county’s roughly 77,000 residents tested positive for COVID-19 in those two weeks, and almost 7 percent of the population has been infected since the pandemic began March 20.

The positivity rate in the county is very high, almost 20 percent.

There have been more new cases, deaths, and hospitalizations in the past two weeks than in any previous month, including November, which, until recently, had been the worst month of the pandemic.

The rest of this story is available if you are a member: an advertiser or subscriber to Oak Ridge Today.

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Governor to address Tennessee after statewide COVID-19 surge

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Bill Lee

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee will deliver a statewide address to Tennesseans about the COVID-19 surge on Sunday, December 20, at 7 p.m. Central time.

Lee’s remarks will be broadcast on Facebook and YouTube.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

You can contact John Huotari, owner and publisher of Oak Ridge Today, at (865) 951-9692 or [email protected]

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Solomon named Oak Ridge fire chief

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Travis Solomon (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The City of Oak Ridge has named Travis Solomon as its new fire chief.

Solomon, who previously served as Oak Ridge Fire Department fire marshal, has served as interim fire chief since former Chief Darryl Kerley’s departure in August. Solomon begins serving as fire chief immediately, a press release said.

“Oak Ridge has always been the model and leading fire service,” Solomon said in the press release. “I want to continue that and enhance the services we provide to better our ability to serve the public.”

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COVID-19: Nine deaths, 14 hospitalizations, 1,000 cases in nine days

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Nine deaths, 14 hospitalizations, and 1,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Anderson County in the nine-day period that ended Tuesday. That’s more deaths, hospitalizations, and new cases in a little more than a week than has been reported in all previous months except November.

Only halfway through the month, there have already been more cases of COVID-19 reported in Anderson County in December than in all of November, which had been the worst month of the pandemic. And total hospitalizations and deaths this month are already close to last month.

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Nine deaths, 14 hospitalizations, and 1,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Anderson County in the nine-day period that ended Tuesday. That’s more deaths, hospitalizations, and new cases in a little more than a week than has been reported in all previous months except November.

Only halfway through the month, there have already been more cases of COVID-19 reported in Anderson County in December than in all of November, which had been the worst month of the pandemic. And total hospitalizations and deaths this month are already close to last month.

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Library returning to curbside service due to COVID spike

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Oak Ridge Public Library
The Oak Ridge Public Library is pictured above.

The Oak Ridge Public Library will close to the public and return to curbside pickup only after the Thanksgiving holiday due to the dramatic increase in local COVID-19 cases, a press release said.

Curbside hours are Monday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Starting Monday, November 30, library users can place holds on books, movies, music, and audiobooks through the library’s catalog at http://orpl.ent.sirsi.net/. Patrons will be notified when their items are ready to be picked up. Look for the reserved parking spaces in the library’s parking lot, call the number on the sign, and library staff will bring your items to your car. If you need help finding items to read, watch, or listen to, you can call (865) 425-3455 for assistance placing holds.

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Read more about the Roane County mask order

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A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Roane County on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

The executive order for face coverings that was issued by Roane County Executive Ron Woody on Monday could be in effect through December 29 unless Woody and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee extend the order.

Woody announced Monday morning that he was going to invoke the authority to mandate face masks in Roane County as authorized by Lee’s order in July.

The mask mandate does not apply to:

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