Oak Ridge Today

Gov. Bill Lee issuing ‘stay at home’ order

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Bill Lee

Note: This story was last updated at 4:48 p.m.

On Thursday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said he will sign Executive Order 23 requiring that Tennesseans stay home unless they are carrying out essential activities. Lee said he is issuing the order because data shows an increase in movements across the state.

“We need all Tennesseans who can to stay home,” Lee said during a Thursday afternoon press conference that was broadcast online.

The governor issued a “safer at home” order this week that urged people to stay home except for essential business. But not as many are staying home as officials would like, and there had apparently been some disregard for the public health guidance.

“It’s dangerous, it’s unacceptable, and it’s a threat to life in the community,” Lee said.

The new order goes further, he said.

“Staying home is not an option,” Lee said. “It’s a requirement.”

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No city employees have tested positive for COVID-19, half of employees working from home

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No Oak Ridge municipal employees have tested positive for COVID-19, and about half of city staff members are working from home and half are working in the office.

In a response to questions on Wednesday, the City of Oak Ridge said one municipal employee was tested, but it was negative for COVID-19. That employee worked from home until the test results came back, as did anyone who was in contact with that employee, the response said.

The city said the Oak Ridge police and fire departments are temperature-screening employees before they enter the office and go out in the field.

“All other employees have been armed with the facts and symptoms of COVID-19 and have been encouraged to stay home, report any symptoms, and get screened if they are not feeling well,” the city said. “If an employee learns they may have been exposed to the virus, they are sent home to quarantine for 14 days or until the person who may have exposed them has tested negative.”

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AC Health Department offering COVID-19 assessments

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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.

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COVID-19 cases pass 2,000 in Tennessee

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Graph by Ken Mayes (used with permission)

Note This story was last updated at 8:30 a.m. April 1.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee passed 2,000 on Tuesday. The Tennessee Department of Health reported 2,239 cases, 23 deaths, and 175 hospitalizations due to COVID-19, a contagious respiratory illness that can be deadly.

The number of cases in Tennessee increased by 405. That was a 22 percent increase from Monday, when there were 1,834 cases.

The 23 deaths reported Tuesday were up from 13 on Monday. The state doesn’t currently list the counties where the deaths occurred.

The state also does not report which counties the hospitalizations occurred in, and it’s not clear how many of the patients remain in the hospital.

The Tennessee Department of Health publishes the state case totals at 2 p.m. Central time each day.

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Oak Ridge playgrounds closed to help prevent spread of COVID-19

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The City of Oak Ridge announced Monday, March 30, 2020, that playgrounds will be closed to help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19. Pictured above is the playground in Alvin K. Bissell Park. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The City of Oak Ridge announced Monday that playgrounds will be closed to help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.

Trails, greenways, and parks including tennis courts, basketball courts for passive use (active games aren’t allowed), and Blankenship Field and track remain open for now for walking and jogging, the city said.

Other facilities are under review for possible closure, the city said.

“The public health situation is rapidly changing, here are the latest updates affecting city facilities,” the city said in an updated from Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson.

The city said financial transactions can be handled electronically and by mail. If you need to meet someone, you can call the department’s extension directly. Phone numbers are listed under each department below.

For the latest information on Oak Ridge Schools, click here.

MUNICIPAL BUILDING (Updated 3/20/20)

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Courthouse using one entrance; Senior Center closed through April 24

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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:

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Governor issues ‘safer at home’ order that urges people to stay home

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Bill Lee

Note This story was last updated at 7:45 p.m.

As the number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee continued to climb Monday, Governor Bill Lee issued a “safer at home” order that urged residents to stay home unless they are engaged in essential activities and it required non-essential businesses to close to the public, although curbside and delivery service will be allowed.

Critics immediately suggested the order wasn’t strong enough. Some would like a shelter in place order or stay at home order that does more than urge people to stay home.

The governor’s office said the new order, Executive Order 22, implements “safer at home” guidelines in every Tennessee county to further help slow the spread of COVID-19, a contagious respiratory illness that has no cure and can cause severe symptoms and lead to hospitalization and death. The Tennessee Department of Health confirmed 1,834 cases in the state on Monday, with 148 hospitalizations and 13 deaths. The number of cases has more than doubled in the past five days, Lee’s order said.

The governor’s order goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. Central time on Tuesday, March 31, and it will continue through 11:59 p.m. Central time on April 14.

“This is not a mandated shelter in place, but instead urges Tennesseans who are in non-essential roles to remain at home,” the governor’s office said.

The executive order restricts businesses that cannot safely operate during COVID-19 including businesses like barber shops, salons, and recreational and entertainment outfits, Lee’s office said. It also provides for the continuation of essential businesses throughout every county to protect the economy, the office said.

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COVID-19 cases pass 1,500 in Tennessee

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Graph courtesy Ken Mayes and used with permission

Note: This story was last updated at 11:40 a.m.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee passed 1,500 on Sunday.

There are now 1,537 cases in 72 of Tennessee’s 95 counties, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

That’s triple the number of cases from a week earlier. There were 505 cases on Sunday, March 22. The number of cases appears to be doubling in Tennessee in a range generally between two and five days.

“This is a very serious threat that we face as a community,” Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said during a press conference in Memphis on Friday. “We certainly have the capacity to rise up like Tennesseans do, to address it in a way that only we can. But it will take the efforts of every single one of us to do it.”

Lee said Tennessee is testing more people per capita than many other states.

The governor responded to a question about a potential “stay at home” order, an action he’s been urged to consider, and when they’re appropriate. He said a majority of states have not issued such an order statewide, and the decisions require “real discernment.” Closing businesses leads to job losses and affects livelihoods, Lee said. States are trying to use the right approaches and right decisions at the right time in the right places, Lee said.

“Here’s the reality in Tennessee: We are to a great degree, shut down as a state,” Lee said. “Every major population center has a stay at home order. The most populous counties in our state are all covered by stay at home orders—every restaurant, dining room in the state, every bar in Tennessee, every school in Tennessee…Tennesseans have shut down. This state is largely closed down, except for the number of folks that are moving around for the appropriate reasons.”

But that’s not true for all Tennessee residents, Lee acknowledged, as he urged residents to stay home, stay apart, avoid gatherings, and avoid unnecessary activities.

The number of confirmed cases in Anderson County ticked up to six on Sunday.

In surrounding counties, Knox County had 38 cases; Loudon County had eight; Campbell County had four; Roane County and Scott County each had two; and Morgan County and Union County each had one.

More than 133 patients have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Tennessee, a hospitalization rate of about 8.7 percent of confirmed cases. Seven people have died, according to the Tennessee Department of Health, which publishes the state case totals at 2 p.m. Central time each day. It’s not clear how many of the 133 patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19 remain in a hospital, or where the majority have been hospitalized.

Shelby County, which includes Memphis in West Tennessee, recently passed Davidson County, which includes Nashville in Middle Tennessee, in the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state. Shelby County had 313 cases on Sunday, while Davidson County had 260. Shelby County had about 20 percent of the state’s total, while Davidson County had roughly 17 percent.

Oak Ridge Today has reported on three cases in Anderson County, one at the Anderson County Courthouse and two at the Y-12 National Security Complex. But it’s not clear where those two patients live or were tested, so it’s not clear if those cases are included in the case totals for Anderson County or in the case totals for another county.

There have been 20,574 COVID-19 tests total in the state, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. Of those, 19,037 (92.5 percent) have been negative, and 1,537 (7.5 percent) have been positive.

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COVID-19 cases rise to 1,373; Morgan, Union report first cases

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Graph by Ken Mayes (used with permission)

Note: This story was updated at 9:20 .m. March 30.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee rose to 1,373 on Saturday, and Morgan and Union counties reported their first cases.

More than 118 patients have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Tennessee, and six people have died, according to the Tennessee Department of Health, which publishes the state case totals at 2 p.m. Central time each day.

Shelby County, which includes Memphis in West Tennessee, now has more COVID-19 cases than Davidson County, which includes Nashville in Middle Tennessee. Shelby County has 269 cases, compared to 243 for Davidson County. Each county has roughly 18 percent of the state’s total cases. The Shelby County total was up from 201 on Friday.

COVID-19 cases have now been reported in Anderson County and all of its surrounding counties: Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union.

The number of cases in Anderson County increased to five on Saturday, up from four on Friday and three on Thursday.

Oak Ridge Today has reported on three cases in Anderson County, one at the Anderson County Courthouse and two at the Y-12 National Security Complex. But it’s not clear where those two patients live or were tested, so it’s not clear if those cases are included in the case totals for Anderson County or in the case totals for another county.

Knox County, which includes Knoxville, has 33 cases; Loudon County has six; Campbell county has four; Scott County has two; and Morgan, Roane, and Union counties have one case each.

There have been 18,338 COVID-19 tests total in the state, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. Of those, 16,965 (92.5 percent) have been negative.

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COVID-19 cases up to 1,203 in Tenn. with six deaths

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Note: This story was last updated at 9:30 a.m. March 29.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee increased to 1,203 on Friday, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

That’s up from 957 on Thursday, a 23 percent increase.

It’s up more than five times from 228 the previous week (Friday, March 20).

There are now four cases confirmed in Anderson County. That’s up from three on Thursday. It’s not clear if the four cases include the two that have been publicly disclosed, one at the Anderson County Courthouse and one at Y-12 National Security Complex, because it’s not clear where those two patients live or were tested.

There have been six deaths in Tennessee due to COVID-19 and 103 hospitalizations, the Tennessee Department of Health said in its afternoon list published Friday.

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COVID-19: 3 cases in Anderson; 53 hospitalizations, 3 deaths in Tenn.

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

The Tennessee Department of Health on Wednesday reported three cases of COVID-19 in Anderson County; a total of 53 hospitalizations so far, although some patients could have been discharged; and three deaths in Tennessee from the contagious respiratory illness.

Oak Ridge Today has reported on two cases in Anderson County, one at the Anderson County Courthouse and the other at the Y-12 National Security Complex. It’s not clear where the third case is.

The total number of confirmed cases in Tennessee climbed to 784 on Wednesday. That was up from 667 on Tuesday and 615 on Monday. The total number of confirmed cases had increased eight times from 98 one week earlier, on Wednesday, March 18.

The state total may not reflect what is being reported in cities and counties and can be lower because there can be a lag between what is being reported to city and county health departments and what is reported by the state.

At least some of the increase in the state’s numbers has been attributed to more testing. But it’s not clear how much of the increase in the number of confirmed cases is due to more testing.

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Council declares emergency, suspends utility disconnects

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Note: This story was last updated at 3:43 p.m.

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday declared a local emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed to suspend the disconnection of utilities for non-payments for up to 90 days.

The Council also agreed to let the Oak Ridge Electric Department work with ADFAC, a nonprofit organization, to supply $100,000 worth of utility aid to help residential customers. Customers would have to demonstrate that they were either laid off or had their work hours significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The temporary utility policy applies to electricity, water, sewer, and garbage service. The city is not providing the services for free, so bills will continue to accrue even if they’re not being paid. Oak Ridge Electric Director Jack Suggs said the city will work with customers to make payments once life returns to normal.

“We expect this is going to be very hard on people,” Suggs told the Oak Ridge City Council during a 90-minute special meeting at noon Monday.

In a Thursday memo, Suggs said the nationwide measures taken so far to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have dramatically affected many people in Oak Ridge.

“Hotel occupancy has plummeted to historically low levels while restaurants and entertainment venues have closed or reduced hours and services,” Suggs said. “As a result, many of these enterprises are struggling to meet their financial obligations. Many employees in these industries have been laid off or had their working hours slashed to levels where they are financially unable to meet their basic financial obligations.”

Complicating the situation: Schools have closed, meaning children are at home, sometimes by themselves, and social service agencies have closed.

Suggs said most utilities in the area have suspended disconnects for non-payment for now.

“This is done in recognition that persons who are confined at home, and especially those with children, require utilities for their continued health and welfare. This is an issue not only for the individual, but also for the community at large. The same thing can be said about the shutdown of commercial or industrial accounts. While the loss of one business is a tragedy, the loss of several accounts is a community disaster.”

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