Oak Ridge Today

Many schools closed due to illness

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A graph of COVID-19 case counts in the Knoxville-Knox County region through Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, by the Tennessee Department of Health.

Many schools in the area are closed this week due to illness, but Oak Ridge Schools have remained open.

Anderson County Schools were closed Wednesday and Thursday and will remain closed Friday “due to staffing concerns related to illness.”

Clinton City Schools were open Wednesday but closed Thursday, and they will remain closed Friday due to student illness.

Knox County Schools were also closed Wednesday and Thursday and will remain closed Friday “due to staffing challenges related to illness.” The school system cannot shift to virtual learning district-wide because of rules established by the Tennessee Board of Education, Knox County Schools Superintendent Bob Thomas said in a letter to families. But individual schools may have to switch to virtual learning in the next several weeks depending upon absences, and the district could submit waiver applications to the Tennessee Department of Education.

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Oak Ridge Schools absent rate at 12 percent

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Note: This story was updated at 10:55 a.m. Feb. 8.

Oak Ridge Schools reported Wednesday that it is monitoring student and staff attendance as people across the United States monitor the flu and flu-related concerns.

“Currently, our absenteeism rate is at 12 percent, which is clearly lower than surrounding school systems,” Oak Ridge Schools Coordinated School Health reported on Twitter.

Anderson County Schools announced it would be closed Thursday and Friday because of widespread illness among students and staff members. Other area schools have closed as well, including Clinton and Lenoir City schools, and Campbell, Knox, Scott, Sevier, and Union counties. [Read more…]

Anderson County Schools to close Thursday, Friday

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Information from WYSH Radio in Clinton

Note: This story was updated at 10:55 a.m. Feb. 8.

On Tuesday, Anderson County Director of Schools Tim Parrott announced that the system will be closed on Thursday, February 8, and Friday, February 9, because of widespread illness among students and staff members. One of those days will be made up on Monday, April 2, which had been scheduled to be an in-service day for teachers.

Asked after the announcement why schools would be open today (Wednesday, February 7) when officials already knew they would be out the following two days, Parrott in an email said “there is always a chance that both student and teacher attendance will improve (on Wednesday). The leadership team met and decided that it would be best to close school Thursday and Friday. This will give extra time for the students to get well and to clean and disinfect the schools.” [Read more…]

Free flu shots at ORUUC Free Community Meal on Friday

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Free flu shots will be offered at a free community meal on Friday, February 27.

The community meal will be at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Oak Ridge Turnpike. Everyone is invited, a press release said.

The Stone Soup Ministry team will be serving a homemade meal of minestrone soup, cornbread, cookies, and fruit. Dine-in or take-out will be available in the ORUUC Social Hall from 5 to 6 p.m. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

 Anderson County Health Department offers free flu vaccine

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Anderson County Health DepartmentCLINTON—Flu season is here, with seasonal influenza cases now reported across Tennessee.

The Anderson County Health Department is working to protect the entire community by providing free flu vaccinations to area residents until vaccine supplies are depleted, a press release said. Appointments must be made to receive flu vaccine, and they are now being scheduled at the clinic. [Read more…]

UT professor offers tips to help avoid, deal with flu season

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Paul Campbell Erwin

Paul Campbell Erwin

Forty states—including Tennessee—are already experiencing widespread and increasing influenza infections this season, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Paul Erwin, head of the Department of Public Health at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, offers three simple tips that can go a long way in protecting you from getting or spreading the flu:

  • Get vaccinated.

Erwin noted that flu vaccines are still available and effective. [Read more…]

Free flu shots, warm coats available at Jan. 31 Stone Soup meal

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ORUUC Stone Soup Community Meal and Flu Shots

Free flu shots will be available at the Jan. 31 Stone Soup community meal at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. (Submitted photo)

Free flu shots and warm coats will be available at the Jan. 31 Stone Soup community meal at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

Everyone is invited to the free community meal, scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, a press release said. The church is located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The Stone Soup team will prepare and serve homemade white chicken chili, corn bread, and a cookie and milk.

The Stone Soup Ministry team has partnered with the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, or FMCOR, to provide free flu shots to anyone in need. Nurses who are volunteers at FMCOR will be on hand to give the shots, the press release said. The vaccine is being provided by the clinic. [Read more…]