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COVID case, positivity rates rising as school resumes

Posted at 11:49 pm July 27, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

Note: This story was updated at 12:15 p.m. July 28.

The COVID-19 case and positivity rates are rising in Anderson County as school resumes in Oak Ridge. More than 100 new COVID-19 cases, four hospitalizations, and three deaths have been reported since mid-July. The positivity rate, a measure of how many COVID-19 tests are positive each day, is about 10 percent, which exceeds World Health Organization guidelines.

Cases in Tennessee have surged from a low of a few hundred new cases per day about a month ago to roughly 2,100 new cases on Tuesday. Current hospitalizations across the state have climbed from a low of a few hundred to 762. Fifty-one hospitalizations were reported Tuesday.

In the past two weeks, the rate of new COVID-19 cases per day in Anderson County has steadily climbed from a low of about one new case per day in Anderson County to 7.6 new cases per day. The county reported 112 new cases of COVID-19 between Monday, July 12, and Tuesday, July 27, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Health. (See also here and here.)

There were 74 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the week between Tuesday, July 20, and Monday, July 26. That’s an average of about 10.6 new cases per day. The one-week average of 10.6 new cases per day was higher than the 14-day case average of 7.6 reported by the state.

Two new deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in Anderson County on Monday, although that doesn’t necessarily mean the deaths occurred Monday because the state reporting can lag a few days behind when the deaths occurred.

Also in the last two weeks, the positivity rate has climbed from about 2.3 percent on Monday, July 12, to 9.3 percent on Tuesday, July 27. The WHO has recommended a positivity rate below 5 percent.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: COVID-19, Education, Front Page News, Health, Health, K-12, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID-19 cases, face masks, pandemic, positivity rate, Tennessee Department of Health, vaccines

Roane State ends COVID-19 mask requirement for fully vaccinated

Posted at 10:31 pm May 17, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Part of the Oak Ridge branch campus of Roane State Community College is pictured above. (Photo by Roane State)

Roane State Community College is ending its face mask requirement for people who are fully vaccinated. The college also ended its daily wellness screening requirement on campus on Monday.

The changes are updates to the college’s pandemic response plan as COVID-19 cases decline in the area, state, and nation.

“These changes follow updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued on May 13,” Roane State said in a press release. “Over the next few weeks, Roane State will be working to implement these new protocols within its response plan and communicate changes to the campus community.”

Until further notice, Roane State will maintain some of the preventive measures put in place during the pandemic in order to keep campuses as safe as possible. Protocols that will remain in place include:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College, COVID-19, Education, Education, Front Page News, Health, Slider Tagged With: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19, face mask, pandemic, Roane State Community College

ORAU will support COVID-19 communications for CDC Office of Minority Health & Health Equity

Posted at 12:30 pm April 16, 2021
By Amy Schwinge Leave a Comment

Part of the ORAU campus in central Oak Ridge is pictured above on May 29, 2017. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

ORAU was recently awarded a contract by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) to provide technical communications support to the office and three COVID-19 award recipients.

ORAU will advise the development of awardee health communication plans and materials targeting limited English proficiency audiences, such as Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Islander populations, as well as help increase the communications capacity of OMHHE to respond to COVID-19 in these and other high-risk communities, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: COVID-19, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Health, Oak Ridge Associated Universities Tagged With: CDC, COVID, ORAU

Only those who meet CDC criteria can be tested Friday

Posted at 10:33 am April 17, 2020
By John Huotari 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)

Only people who meet certain criteria can be tested for COVID-19 at Oak Ridge High School today (Friday, April 17).

The criteria, established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include only people with COVID-19 symptoms, first responders, health care workers, and patients who may have been exposed to the virus, the City of Oak Ridge said Thursday night.

COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, or shortness of breath. COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness that can be deadly.

Appointments for testing must be made online at KrogerHealth.com/COVIDtesting or by phone at (888) 837-8852.

If someone who meets CDC criteria is unable to register online or by phone, they can be registered on site, but they still need to meet the CDC criteria, the city said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, COVID-19, Front Page News, Government, Health, Health, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, City of Oak Ridge, COVID-19, drive-through testing, Kroger Health, Oak Ridge High School

ORAU, ORISE permit some work from home

Posted at 12:30 pm March 20, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Part of the ORAU campus in central Oak Ridge is pictured above on May 29, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

ORAU and ORISE—which work for more than 20 different federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—are allowing employees to work from home when possible.

ORAU and ORISE have authorized executives and directors to approve work from home for employees who are able to perform their job responsibilities at home, such as office workers.

Some employees will be required to report to work to continue operations, including in some laboratories, in information technology for computer support, and for security, for example.

ORAU is Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and ORISE is Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.

The work-from-home authorization was implemented this week, and ORAU and ORISE don’t have final numbers of the numbers of employees who are or will be working from home.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: COVID-19, Federal, Government, Health, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coronavirus, COVID-19, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, ORAU, ORISE, work from home

AC Schools, Clinton Community Center closing

Posted at 10:33 am March 16, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Anderson County Schools will be closed through the end of Spring Break on March 27, and extracurricular activities are being suspended. The Clinton Community Center will be closed through at least March 30.

The school system closure is to be cautious and to be in accordance with the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about social distancing, Anderson County Schools said.

The school system is closing its buildings to all outside organizations.

Teachers and staff members were expected to report to work on Monday, March 16 to begin preparing an alternative education plan for students.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, COVID-19, Education, Health, K-12 Tagged With: Anderson County Schools, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Clinton Community Center, coronavirus, COVID-19, Roger Houck, social distancing

Governor declares state of emergency; first COVID-19 case diagnosed in Knox

Posted at 4:11 pm March 12, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Note: This story was last updated at 7:10 p.m.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee declared a state of emergency to help treat and contain COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus, and the first case has been diagnosed in Knox County.

The Knox County patient was exposed overseas and is an isolated case. The person has been in isolation and has not required hospitalization, according to the Knox County Health Department.

It’s a presumptive positive case, and local and state officials are waiting for confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Following standard public health protocols for infectious disease response, Knox County Health Department said its epidemiologists will work with the Tennessee Department of Health and follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to contact and monitor anyone who may have been exposed to this isolated case. Eighteen cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Department of Health, but it is not currently widespread in Knox County or the state.

“We understand the concern surrounding COVID-19, but we hope Knox County citizens can take some comfort in the fact that we were expecting a case, and that we routinely utilize extensive plans and national best practice to respond to all reportable infectious diseases in Knox County,” said KCHD Senior Director Dr. Martha Buchanan. “The most important thing the public can do is to follow the CDC guidance, which includes the standard hygiene practices we recommend to prevent the spread of flu and other viruses.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: COVID-19, Front Page News, Government, Health, Health, Slider, State Tagged With: Bill Lee, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coronavirus, COVID-19, Knox County, Knox County Health Department, Martha Buchanan, state of emergency, Tennessee Department of Health

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

Posted at 6:39 pm February 28, 2020
By John Huotari 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…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Education, Front Page News, Government, Health, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Health Department, Anderson County Schools, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coronavirus, COVID-19, face masks, Oak Ridge Schools

CDC awards $167 million dose reconstruction contract to ORAU

Posted at 2:09 pm August 8, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Part of the ORAU campus in central Oak Ridge is pictured above on May 29, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

ORAU and its partners have received a $167 million multi-year contract for work that includes radiation dose reconstructions for a federal compensation program that involves certain illnesses and work at sites affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy.

ORAU announced the contract in a press release on Wednesday.

ORAU and its partners started work on the original contract in 2002, or 17 years ago. The new contract is for one year with four, one-year options, the press release said.

The contract is with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The work will support the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, ORAU, Slider, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, DOE, dose assessment, dose reconstruction, EEOICPA, energy employees, Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, MJW Technical Services, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH, nuclear weapons complex, NV5/Dade Moeller, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, ORAU, radiation dose reconstruction, U.S. Department of Energy

Final notice: New class of Y-12 workers added to compensation program

Posted at 5:50 pm April 12, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The sign at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A new class of workers at the Y-12 National Security Complex has been added to a federal energy employees compensation program that was established about two decades ago, officials announced Thursday.

The affected employees would have worked at Y-12 between January 1, 1958, and December 31, 1976. They would have been employees of the U.S. Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, or their contractors and subcontractors. They would have had an aggregate of at least 250 work days. That could have occurred either only through this employment or in combination with work days that meet the parameters established for one or more other classes of employees in what is known as the Special Exposure Cohort.

The notice that the new class of employees has been added to the Special Exposure Cohort was published in the Federal Register by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday. Oak Ridge Today reported in December that the class was being evaluated, based on exposure to radiation from thorium metal parts and plutonium-241 isotopes, and reported in March that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had designated the class of employees to be added. The new designation became effective March 28.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Health, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Alex Azar, cancer, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, energy employees compensation, Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, Federal Register, HHS, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH, plutonium-241, radiation dose, special exposure cohort, Stuart L. Hinnefeld, thorium metal, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Y-12, Y-12 National Security Complex

(For members) NIOSH evaluating another class of Y-12 workers for compensation program

Posted at 2:58 pm April 8, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The sign at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The sign at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The sign at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Federal health and safety officials are evaluating another class of Y-12 employees for a workers compensation program that involves certain illnesses and work at sites that are affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy.

The petition being evaluated now could include all laborers who fabricated or processed uranium between January 1, 1977, and December 31, 1994, in any area at Y-12. The petition was received November 1 and qualified for evaluation on March 25.

The rest of this story, which you will find only on Oak Ridge Today, is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or recent contributor to Oak Ridge Today. 

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Note: Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, sponsors, and subscribers. Some are considered premium content. This story is premium content. Premium content can include in-depth, investigative, and exclusive stories.

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Premium Content, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health, cancer, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, Federal Register, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH, petition, radiation dose, special exposure cohort, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, workers' compensation, Y-12

Highway safety initiative comes to Roane County

Posted at 11:59 am May 8, 2016
By JoAnna Brooker Leave a Comment

Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 12.56.36 PM

If you are wondering what these message boards and yard signs are doing all over town, wonder no more.

The portable message boards have a simple message of “Buckle Up Tonight” that flashes twice as each car passes. The yard signs read on one side “Buckle Up Tonight to See Tomorrow.” The message on the other reads “Exercise Some Restraint When You Go Out Tonight,” and it shows a seatbelt graphic.

This is part of a campaign organized by University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research. This initiative is funded by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Tennessee Highway Safety Office to increase nighttime seat belt use. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Federal, Front Page News, Government, State Tagged With: Buckle Up Tonight, Buckle Up Tonight to See Tomorrow, CDC, Center for Transportation Research, Centers for Disease Control, highway safety, Linda Capps, message boards, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, nighttime seat belt use, Roane County, Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Rockwood Driver Services Center, saturation patrols, seat belt, seat belt use, seatbelts, Tennessee Highway Safety Office, University of Tennessee, University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research, yard signs

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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