COVID-19 Takes a Toll

NHC in Hendersonville reports a death due to COVID-19, the Hendersonville Standard has the story:

A Hendersonville nursing home last week became the county’s third long-term care facility to report a patient death related to COVID-19.

NHC Healthcare on Old Shackle Island Road reported the death to the Tennessee Department of Health on July 23, according to Department of Health Communications Director Shelley Walker.

 The list includes five Sumner County long-term care facilities and accounts for 30 of Sumner’s 68 COVID-19 deaths. The facilities are:

• · The Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing has reported 25 deaths; 99 residents have tested positive for COVID-19; 55 residents have recovered and 69 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. The facility has 173 residents.
• · NHC Place in Gallatin has reported four deaths; eight residents have tested positive for the virus; four have recovered and nine staff members have tested positive. The facility has 77 residents.
• · At Signature Health of Portland Rehab and Wellness Center, one resident and four staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. None have recovered. The facility has 87 residents.
• · At Westmoreland Care and Rehabilitation Center, 10 residents and 12 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. None have recovered. The facility has 98 residents.
• · NHC Healthcare on Old Shackle Island Road. The facility has 95 residents. Nine have tested positive for COVID-19; one has recovered and eight staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus. One death has been reported at the facility.

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On Wearing Masks

A Hendersonville resident took to Letters to the Editor to urge everyone to wear a mask in public in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In spite of the mandate from the Sumner County mayor that we should wear a mask in public, some people are refusing to wear one.

During a recent trip to buy groceries, I observed a lot of people not wearing masks---or social distancing. Last week there was a protest in Gallatin against mask wearing, organized by J.T. Olsen, calling this pandemic fake.

What is wrong with these people? Don’t they know how serious this pandemic is? Don’t they believe that hundreds of people have died in Tennessee, and more are still dying? They say that this is a free country, and government does not have the right to tell them what to wear.

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https://www.hendersonvillestandard.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/resident-wants-everyone-to-wear-a-mask/article_abdeff12-cbb0-11ea-8354-a717d3209ad5.html

COVID Surging in Tennessee

TN has one of the highest jumps in new COVID cases over the last week.

Sumner School Board to Vote on Request to #CancelTNReady

The Sumner County School Board will vote tomorrow night (7/21) on a resolution calling on the state to waive testing and accountability requirements for the 2020-21 school year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here’s more:

http://tnedreport.com/?p=4831

White House Report: Tennessee a Coronavirus “Red Zone”

An unpublished White House document indicates that public health experts consider 18 states (including Tennessee) as currently in a Coronavirus “red zone” according to a report from the Center for Public Integrity.

The report comes even as Gov. Bill Lee refuses to issue a statewide mask mandate and insists the state will remain open. Lee has also said he expects high school football this season.

Here’s more from the Center for Public Integrity:

A document prepared for the White House Coronavirus Task Force but not publicized suggests more than a dozen states should revert to more stringent protective measures, limiting social gatherings to 10 people or fewer, closing bars and gyms and asking residents to wear masks at all times.

The document, dated July 14 and obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, says 18 states are in the “red zone” for COVID-19 cases, meaning they had more than 100 new cases per 100,000 population last week. Eleven states are in the “red zone” for test positivity, meaning more than 10 percent of diagnostic test results came back positive.

 https://publicintegrity.org/health/coronavirus-and-inequality/exclusive-white-house-document-shows-18-states-in-coronavirus-red-zone-covid-19/

School Board to Present Re-Opening Plan

The Sumner County School Board tonight will hear a plan for re-opening schools amid the COVID19  pandemic. District leaders are expected to answer questions from parents and teachers submitted to them by local public school advocacy group Strong Schools.

The meeting begins at 6PM and can be viewed online via this link:



https://go.boarddocs.com/tn/scstn/Board.nsf/Public#tab-meetings

Surge

Cases of COVID-19 are surging in middle Tennessee, including the highest single day increase in Nashville since the pandemic began. Here’s more from NewsChannel5:

Metro health officials reported 771 new cases Tuesday, marking the highest single-day increase since the pandemic began. The previous record high was set just last week.

 https://www.newschannel5.com/news/nashville-mayor-john-cooper-metro-health-officials-to-give-covid-19-update-july-14

TN COVID-19 Update -- May 12, 2020

Here's key information from Gov. Bill Lee's COVID-19 update today:

Testing Update

The Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) and the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) are working together to increase testing accessibility for intermediate care facilities and members of the Employment and Community First CHOICES program.

The first testing event will be held Friday, May 15 in Scott County, utilizing DIDD’s mobile clinic and nursing staff specializing in care of persons with disabilities. Based on this provider assistance, an estimated 12,500 tests will be conducted in the coming weeks to support Tennessee’s intellectual and developmental disability community.

More information on the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) is available here.

Stimulus Financial Accountability Group

The Stimulus Financial Accountability Group held its second meeting on Tuesday, May 12. As the state reviews federally permitted uses for the first round of CARES Act funding, we expect additional guidance from Congress that includes the potential to reverse course and allow for the backfill of Tennessee’s lost revenue.

While prudently managing state finances, Gov. Lee and the Stimulus Financial Accountability Group are focused on getting money back into the hands of Tennessee business owners, strengthening public health response, providing support for the unemployed and those negatively impacted by this crisis.

More details on Tennessee’s bipartisan Stimulus Financial Accountability Group are available here and information on today’s virtual meeting can be found here.

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Fauci's Warning

Dr. Anthony Fauci, America's top infectious disease official, warned today against opening the nation and our communities up too quickly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's more from Bloomberg News:

Fauci told the Senate Health Committee Tuesday that he’s concerned about cities and states reopening without reaching “checkpoints” outlined by the administration in guidelines to help them decide when it’s safe.

“I feel if that occurs, there is a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak that you might not be able to control,” Fauci said. “In fact, paradoxically it will set you back -- not only leading to some suffering and death that could be avoided but it could even set you back on the road on trying to get economic recovery. That would turn the clock back rather than going forward.”

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An "F" in Social Distancing

That's the score Tennessee has received according to a report noted by WKRN:

Unacast’s data shows that we are doing worse than before at staying apart. Tennessee’s score on Unacast’s Social Distancing Scoreboard is an ‘F.’ In Davidson County, where restrictions are just being loosened, the score is a C-.

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TN Coronavirus Cases Surpass 15,000

WVLT reports that as of today, there have been more than 15,000 cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee and 251 deaths.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state of Tennessee increased to 15,544 as of May 11. 8,038 patients recovered and 251 people in Tennessee have died from the virus.

Sumner County has 699 reported cases as of today.

36% Spike

WJHL reports that COVID19 cases are up by 36% in the last week even as Tennessee begins "re-opening."

Tennessee has seen a 36% jump in new coronavirus cases in the past week.

Health officials on Sunday reported 516 new coronavirus cases, pushing Tennessee’s total to at least 13,177.

A week ago Sunday, the state had at least 9,667 confirmed cases.

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For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews 

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Hair Salons to Remain CLOSED

While Gov. Bill Lee is allowing gyms and fitness centers to re-open on Friday, his latest executive order requires that hair salons and other personal care businesses stay closed through May 23rd, according to WKRN:

Personal care businesses such as hair and nail salons must remain closed for the next month, according to a new executive order from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee.

The order, published and signed by Lee on Tuesday, offers guidance for businesses deemed safe to open, but also mandates the closure of businesses including those that “perform close-contact personal services.”

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For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews


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Nashville Sees Surge in COVID19 Cases as Nearby Sumner Re-Opens

Even as suburban counties such as Sumner "re-open" per Gov. Bill Lee's plan, Nashville is seeing a surge in cases of COVID-19, reports WSMV.

The transmission rate of COVID-19 in Davidson County has increased to 1.0 after an additional 100 cases were reported on Monday. Health offiicals also reported two deaths.

The increase raised Metro's total to 2,588, an increase of 375 new cases since Saturday.

Dr. Alex Jahangir said it was likely the Safer at Home order for Nashville would be extended because of the data.

"May 1 is Friday and, as we've discussed, we'll probably extend the order for sometime," said Jahangir on Tuesday. "I don't have an answer for when that is and, and I have mentioned, we'll try to give everyone enough leadway to when that is."

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For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

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Tracking COVID19 in Tennessee

Total number of cases in the state approaching 10,000, total deaths nearing 200. This past weekend saw the largest surge in number of cases even as Gov. Bill Lee prepares to "re-open" Tennessee this week.

Here's more from the Nashville Post:

The Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed 9,918 cases of COVID-19 across the state, up 251 cases from the number on Sunday afternoon. 

Nearly 6,900 tests were processed and reported during the same time frame, bringing the statewide total to 154,400 people tested — nearly one for every 44 Tennessee residents. 

Across the state, 837 individuals have been hospitalized and 184 people have died. Those numbers are up nine and three, respectively, since Sunday

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

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Clary Talks COVID

In a Facebook post on his personal page, Hendersonville Mayor Jamie Clary posted about the "reopening" of Hendersonville pursuant to Gov. Bill Lee's stated plans. Here's what he had to say:

Davidson County is NOT included in the governor’s plan to re-open businesses in Tennessee. We do not follow Davidson County. We cannot follow Davidson County.

Sumner County, including Hendersonville, IS included in the Governor’s Plan because we have a state-operated health department. As mayor, I have to follow the governor’s plan.

When Governor Lee announced Phase One of his plan, he stated, “Tennessee restaurants are able to reopen Monday (April 27) at 50 percent occupancy. Additionally, Tennessee retailers are able to reopen on Wednesday (April 29) at 50 percent occupancy. He included several restrictions on these businesses. I have listed those restrictions below.

The governor’s office will be providing guidance this week regarding churches, gyms, and medical procedures. Close contact services including salons and barber shops will not re-open until Phase Two. The governor will address those businesses later this week, and I will distribute the information as soon as I receive it.

Thank you for your patience.

Protecting restaurant employees:
•Wear face coverings and gloves
•Report any symptoms of illness to supervisor
•Follow daily sanitation protocols

Protecting restaurant customers:
•Limit occupancy to 50% of seating capacity
•Space tables 6 feet apart
•Limit seating to 6 per table
•Use social distancing standards in waiting areas
•Keep bar areas closed
•No live music
•Screen customers with basic questions about COVID-19 symptoms

Protecting restaurant business operations:
•Sanitize all front-of-house contact surfaces every two hours
•Use disposable menus or sanitize menus between each use
•Use rolled silverware/napkins stored in sealed bins
•Sanitize chairs and all tabletop items after each table turn
•Do not offer self-serve buffets, shared condiments, or beverage station re-use
•Provide ServSafeCOVID-19 training for all food handlers

Protecting retail employees:
•Wear dedicated cloth face coverings, gloves, and other personal protection items as recommended by the CDC
•Report any symptoms of illness to supervisor
•Provide training on personal protective equipment based on CDC guidelines
•Sanitize hands with soap and/or hand sanitizer
•Stagger shifts, breaks, and meals to maintain social distancing

Protecting retail customers:
•Limit customer occupancy to 50% of store capacity
•Customers should wear face coverings inside stores
•Consider shopping hours for the elderly, medically vulnerable, and health care workers
•Establish one-way aisles and traffic patterns for social distancing
•Increase curbside, pickup, and delivery service options
•Prompt customers regarding the importance of social distancing

Protecting retail business operations:
•Establish enhanced cleaning protocols that follow CDC guidelines
•Designate separate entrances and exits
•Use plastic shields or barriers at checkout between the customer and clerk
•Adjust store hours to allow time for enhanced cleaning
•Prohibit the use of reusable bags
•Suspend “self-service” food stations and dining areas
•Suspend the sampling of food and personal hygiene products
•Management-level employees should monitor compliance
•Add social distancing “reminder” signage and announcements

He didn't mention that Sumner County has the third highest number of cases in TN and the second highest number of deaths.

Of course, some residents are preparing to "shoot the virus."

For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

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One More Week

Hendersonville city leaders have announced the "Stay at Home" order will be in effect for the city for at least one more week, the Tennessean reports:

The City of Hendersonville will remain under a declared state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for another week.

Mayor Jamie Clary extended the state of emergency, which will now remain in place through May 1, according to a notice issued Friday.

Sumner County has been one of those most impacted by the novel coronavirus outbreak, tallying 556 confirmed cases Thursday, the most recent data available from the Tennessee Department of Health. That’s out of 8,266 cases statewide.

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For more on news impacting Hendersonville and Sumner County, follow @HvilleNews

Got news? Email us: newshendersonville@gmail.com