Oak Ridge Today

Belk, JCPenney, theater closed

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Three of the four stores pictured above at Main Street Oak Ridge were closed as of Friday evening, March 20, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic: maurices, Rack Room Shoes, and Ulta Beauty. Rue21 was open but had announced temporary store hours. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Belk, JCPenney, and several new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge are closed. So is Cinemark Tinseltown Theater. Dick’s Sporting Goods is open for curbside pickup only.

The new stores that are closed include Burkes Outlet, maurices, Rack Room Shoes, T.J.Maxx, and Ulta Beauty.

Electronic Express, PetSmart, and Rue21 were open at last check this weekend, but they have modified hours. (Note: The response to COVID-19 changes rapidly, meaning store operations could change quickly.)

JCPenney said it plans to reopen on April 2. JCPenney said it temporarily closed for the health and safety of customers and employees. The store said it continues to offer service online at jcp.com and through its mobile application.

Cinemark Tinseltown said it is closed until further notice to comply with a local government ordinance. It’s not clear what ordinance that is. You can reach Cinemark by calling (800) 246-3627.

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Council has special meeting Monday to discuss COVID-19

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The Oak Ridge City Council will have a special meeting at noon Monday to discuss how the city is handling and addressing the new coronavirus, or COVID-19.

The special meeting will be in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom.

To help residents watch the meeting, the meeting will be broadcast on Comcast Channel 12 and will be streamed live by the city at www.oakridgetn.gov/councilstreaming.aspx. The meeting will also be audio- and video-recorded and posted on the city’s website as soon as possible after the meeting, a press release said.

“Due to the Centers for Disease Control advisory of limiting gatherings of 10 or more individuals, the city would encourage residents to watch the meeting through one of the methods provided above,” the press release said.

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ORAU, ORISE permit some work from home

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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.

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COVID-19 confirmed in Anderson County

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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.

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Number of COVID-19 cases jumps to 154 in Tennessee

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Image courtesy Tennessee Department of Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Note: After this story was published, the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Anderson County.

This story was last updated at 11:55 p.m.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee jumped to 154 on Thursday, up from 98 on Wednesday.

That’s a 57 percent increase in one day, the largest day-to-day increase. The increase is due to more tests being available, said Lisa Piercey, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health.

There are 15 hospitalizations but no deaths, Piercey said.

The contagious respiratory illness is now in 17 counties, but about half of the cases are in Davidson County, which includes Nashville, in Middle Tennessee.

The total number of cases could be higher because there could be cases that have not yet been reported to the Tennessee Department of Health, which releases its state total at 2 p.m. each day. For example, a COVID-19 case confirmed in Anderson County on Thursday afternoon is not yet included in the state total.

Piercey said the state is still struggling to get some supplies in some areas, particularly personal protective equipment, but there are efforts that could help supply items like masks, according to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

For screening for testing, the state is giving priority to health care workers, people over 65 years old, and those who are hospitalized.

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MMC asks you to call ahead if you have COVID-19 symptoms

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Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge is asking you to call ahead if you have symptoms of COVID-19: fever, coughing, or breathing problems.

That’s consistent with recommendations from the Tennessee Department of Health, which asks you to call your health care provider first if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

MMC said you should call (865) 835-3408 before you go to the hospital’s emergency room, and you will be given an explanation of what you should do before you visit.

When you arrive at MMC’s Emergency Department, you will be met outside for a quick assessment, the hospital said. Once assessed, you may be given a mask and asked to wear it before entering the facility. You will be escorted inside by a team member.

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Restaurants changing hours, types of service

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Panera-Aubreys-March-17-2020
The parking lot at Panera Bread and Aubrey’s late in the lunch hour Tuesday, March 17, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. March 20.

Many restaurants in Oak Ridge are changing hours or the types of services they offer to help try to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus.

Explore Oak Ridge, which helps promote tourism, is tracking some of the changes at restaurants and businesses.

Many restaurants are offering carry-out or curbside service or delivery service. Some are still offering dine-in service. Some are closing earlier than normal.

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Museums, national park center closed

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The American Museum of Science and Energy is pictured above on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Museums and the national park welcome center in Oak Ridge are closed because of COVID-19, the respiratory illness that has infected more than 200,000 people in at least 144 countries around the world and killed more than 8,000 people.

The museums closed in Oak Ridge are the American Museum of Science and Energy, Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, K-25 History Center, Oak Ridge History Museum at Midtown Community Center (Wildcat Den), and Y-12 History Museum at New Hope Center.

Also closed is the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Welcome Center at the Children’s Museum.

The AMSE bus tours are also not operating now.

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ORNL: Staff who can working from home. No travelers from foreign countries allowed for now.

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory is directing staff members who can to work from home, and for now, the lab is not allowing travelers from foreign countries, regardless of nationality.

ORNL cafeterias will be open for carryout only.

In response to questions Tuesday, ORNL said it has not been notified that any staff member is presumed or confirmed to be COVID-19 positive. COVID-19 is the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus. The lab said it is taking proactive measures to reduce the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak and to best protect themselves, their families, and their communities.

“Stopping the spread of the virus will prevent hospitals and other medical facilities from becoming overwhelmed by a spike in patients sickened by COVID-19,” ORNL said. “This is quite literally a life or death matter, and early action is key.”

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Big Ed’s Pizza temporarily closing to evaluate curbside, carryout orders

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Big Ed’s Pizza is pictured above on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Big Ed’s Pizza, Oak Ridge’s most well-known restaurant, announced Tuesday that it is temporarily closing.

The temporary closure will allow managers to time they need to evaluate how to safely and effectively fulfill curbside/to-go/carryout orders, said the restaurant, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

“Once we feel we have the best protocols in place and feel that we can safely operate, we will do so,” Big Ed’s said in a social media post.

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Oak Ridge Schools closing

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Oak Ridge Schools are closing at the end of the day today (Monday, March 16) after Tennessee Governor Bill Lee asked all school districts in the state to close as soon as possible.

Oak Ridge school buildings will be closed, and there will be no extracurricular activities or practices.

The governor expects all schools to stay closed through at least Tuesday, March 31. Oak Ridge Schools are currently on spring break, and they could extend the break using 10 snow/emergency days. That means students might not return to school until Wednesday, April 15, Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers said in a recorded phone call to parents early Monday afternoon.

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AC Schools, Clinton Community Center closing

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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.

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