During the last half of this year, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee unveiled the state’s new standard license plate, a press release said. The design of the new license plate was chosen by Tennesseans through a statewide vote. Anderson County Clerk Jeff Cole is pictured above with the new plate. (Submitted photo)
During the last half of this year, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee unveiled the state’s new standard license plate, a press release said. The design of the new license plate was chosen by Tennesseans through a statewide vote.
“In our 225th year of statehood, we invited Tennesseans to cast their vote and help select the state’s next license plate,†Lee said. “I’m proud to announce the winning design that will represent our unique grand divisions and take its place in Tennessee history.â€
More than 300,000 Tennessee residents cast a vote, with 42% voting for the winning design, the press release said.
Per the Tennessee statute, the license plate is redesigned every eight years if funds are approved in the General Assembly’s annual budget. This statute requires that either “Tennessee,†“Volunteer State,†and “TNvacation.com†be displayed on the plate, along with the county name and the expiration decals. This statute also allows Tennesseans to choose “In God We Trust†as a plate option.
An Anderson County man was among those pardoned by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Thursday.
Lee announced executive clemency decisions for 17 offenders “who have demonstrated a successful path to rehabilitation and established a new process for individuals seeking clemency for drug-free school zone convictions.” The power of executive clemency includes exonerations, pardons, and commutations, or a reduction in a person’s sentence.
Brandon Benson was the Anderson County man who was pardoned.
A copy of the pardon posted online said Benson was convicted of aggravated assault in Shelby County in January 2005 and sentenced to three years of probation. The conviction and other misdemeanor convictions were the result of behaviors related to substance abuse, the pardon said.
Lee said executive clemency was justified in the case because Benson has “turned his life around since 2012 and is committed to his recovery, his family, and his community.” Benson earned his bachelor’s degree in religion from Liberty University in 2019, and he mentors other people with substance abuse issues as a drug and alcohol counselor at HOPE of East Tennessee.
A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Wednesday, July 29, 2021, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)
Anderson County has reported 89 new COVID-19 cases in a week as the infection rate increases and officials across the country warn of the spread of the delta variant, especially among the unvaccinated. The increase in Anderson County mirrors what is happening across Tennessee, where new cases have surged from a few hundred each day to more than 2,500 each day while hospitalizations have more than quadrupled.
The positivity rate, a measure of the positive tests each day, has been 10 percent or higher in Anderson County four times since July 12. It hit a high of 24 percent on July 20, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Health. Ten percent is high, and World Health Organization guidelines have called for keeping the positivity rate below 5 percent.
The county’s 89 new cases in a week, from July 22 to July 28, is an average of 12.7 new cases per day. That average is 32 times higher than the low seven-day average of 0.4 new cases per day reported about three weeks ago, on July 6.
The seven-day new case average is now the highest it’s been about since about March 23. That’s when COVID-19 cases were in the middle of a slow months-long decline after a winter peak in November, December, and January.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Friday said he has extended a limited state of emergency through April 28 and lifted state visitation restrictions on nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
The governor said he signed executive orders 77, 78, and 79.
“Our state’s COVID-19 numbers continue to improve thanks to efficient vaccine distribution and efforts to protect our most vulnerable citizens,†Lee said in a press release. “I have authorized continuation of a limited state of emergency through April 28 in order to keep critical healthcare deregulation in place and ensure continued federal funding compliance, and to lift state visitation restrictions on nursing home and long-term care facilities. To be very clear, my orders do not include any restriction on business. We will continue to focus on delivering vaccines to every corner of the state, ensuring kids get back in the classroom and building on our strong economic recovery.â€
These charts show the number of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations reported by month in Anderson County. (Charts by Oak Ridge Today)
The number of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations decreased in Anderson County in January, but the number of deaths increased. The death rate, comparing total deaths to total cases, has increased significantly.
The number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Anderson County dropped by more than 900 from December to January. There were 2,524 new cases reported in Anderson County in December, according to data published by the Tennessee Department of Health. That fell to 1,608 new cases in January, a 36 percent drop. Still, that was an average of about 52 new COVID-19 cases per day last month.
December and January have been the worst two months of the pandemic so far, with November the third-worst month.
In the past two months, the number of new hospitalizations decreased by 16 percent, falling from 43 in December to 36 in January, according to the state health department data. That was an average of a little more than one new hospitalization per day in Anderson County.
However, deaths increased by 13 in January, compared to December. There were 43 COVID-19 deaths reported in Anderson County in December. That rose to 56 in January. It was a 30 percent increase. There was an average of 1.8 deaths per day due to COVID-19 in Anderson County in January.
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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These charts show the number of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations by month in Anderson County since March 2020. (Charts by Oak Ridge Today)
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.
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.
The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today.
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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These charts by Oak Ridge Today show new COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations by month in Anderson County since the pandemic began March 20, 2020. Note: December is a partial month.
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.
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.
Anderson County is averaging about one COVID-19 death and close to two hospitalizations per day, according to state data, as Tennessee tops the nation and world in new cases per day per capita.
The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber or advertiser to Oak Ridge Today.
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Oak Ridge Today P.O. Box 6064 Oak Ridge, TN 37831
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Governor cites Thanksgiving decisions while discussing state surge
Anderson County is averaging about one COVID-19 death and close to two hospitalizations per day, according to state data, as Tennessee tops the nation and world in new cases per day per capita.
The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber or advertiser to Oak Ridge Today.
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A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)
Governor cites Thanksgiving decisions while discussing state surge
Anderson County is averaging about one COVID-19 death and close to two hospitalizations per day, according to state data, as Tennessee tops the nation and world in new cases per day per capita.
Governor cites Thanksgiving decisions while discussing state surge
Anderson County is averaging about one COVID-19 death and close to two hospitalizations per day, according to state data, as Tennessee tops the nation and world in new cases per day per capita.
The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber or advertiser to Oak Ridge Today.
These charts show the number of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations reported by month in Anderson County. Note: December is a partial month. (Charts by Oak Ridge Today)
With two weeks remaining, December has become the worst month for COVID-19 in Anderson County.
The number of new cases, deaths, and hospitalizations this month have all passed November’s totals. Until now, November had been the worst month.
In the first 16 days of December, 1,354 new cases of COVID-19, 14 deaths, and 22 hospitalizations were reported in Anderson County, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.
Those are all higher than the 1,239 cases, 13 deaths, and 21 hospitalizations reported in the 30 days of November.
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.
The rest of this story is available if you are a member: an advertiser or subscriber to Oak Ridge Today.
If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to:
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Note: This story was updated at 12:20 p.m. Dec. 16.
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.
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.
The rest of this story is available if you are a member: an advertiser or subscriber to Oak Ridge Today.
Compared to previous highs, the number of COVID-19 cases about doubled in Anderson County in November, and the number of deaths almost tripled. The number of hospitalizations was also the highest ever.
It was the worst month of the pandemic so far.
The rest of this story, which you will find only on Oak Ridge Today, is available if you are a member: an advertiser or subscriber to Oak Ridge Today.
If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to:
Oak Ridge Today P.O. Box 6064 Oak Ridge, TN 37831
We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here.
We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription.
Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!
Compared to previous highs, the number of COVID-19 cases about doubled in Anderson County in November, and the number of deaths almost tripled. The number of hospitalizations was also the highest ever.
It was the worst month of the pandemic so far.
Compared to previous highs, the number of COVID-19 cases about doubled in Anderson County in November, and the number of deaths almost tripled. The number of hospitalizations was also the highest ever.
It was the worst month of the pandemic so far.
The rest of this story, which you will find only on Oak Ridge Today, is available if you are a member: an advertiser or subscriber to Oak Ridge Today.
Tennessee reported record highs of almost 8,000 new cases of COVID-19 across the state on Monday, and Anderson County reported a record high of almost 100 new cases.
The Tennessee Department of Health reported 7,951 new cases of COVID-19 across the state on Monday afternoon, and Anderson County reported 93. Both are record highs and far above what is normal, in the range of at least twice as high or more, compared to most previous peaks.
