Newly released unemployment data shows the jobless rate dropped in two-thirds of Tennessee’s 95 counties during March 2020. The unemployment data for the month does not take into account the impact of the COVID-19 health emergency.
The federal government conducted its survey to measure the number of Tennesseans who were out of work during the second week of the month, between March 8 and 14.
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development did not begin to see the unprecedented increase in unemployment claims until the third and fourth weeks of March.
Unemployment rates decreased in 61 counties during March, increased in 18 counties, and remained the same in 16 counties.
Sixty-eight counties had unemployment rates lower than 5% for the month, while 27 counties had rates that were 5% or higher.
Williamson County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate in March. At 2.6%, the new rate mirrored February’s rate.
Cannon County’s rate in March was 3.3% percent, a slight increase over the February rate of 3.1%. In our surrounding counties, DeKalb is the highest with 4.6% and Rutherford is the lowest with 2.7%.
Today, Governor Bill Lee provided an update on Tennessee’s efforts regarding COVID-19 relief. Gov. Lee’s daily press conferences can be viewed live this week Monday through Friday at 3 p.m. CDT here. Gov. Lee has also established a website specific to COVID-19 updates which can be found here.
Key Updates
Important Data Points: Gov. Lee highlighted key data points from the White House guidelines for Opening Up America Again, which highlight three key data buckets: symptoms, cases, and hospital capacity.
For the past three weeks, both flu-like symptoms and COVID-like symptoms have steadily declined within the vast majority of Tennessee’s hospitals (see attachment).
For the last 19 days, Tennessee has seen a steady decline in the growth rate of new COVID-19 cases.
To date, we have had 775 of our 7,842 COVID-19 positive patients hospitalized. Through these hospitalizations, we have kept a close watch on the capacity of our hospitals, and they continue to deliver on care without a change in normal operations.
Additional Data Points:
Testing: Tennessee has been aggressive on testing and identifying new cases of COVID-19 thanks to private sector partners and the work of the Unified-Command Group.
Tennessee ranks 12th in the nation for total tests and 15th in the nation for tests per 100,000 people.
We continuously watch the average day over day increase in growth rate of COVID-19 and want to see a doubling rate of at least 11 days.
Additional data updates from the Tennessee Department of Health can be found here, and more information on White House guidelines for Opening Up America Again can be found here.
Administration Actions
Support for Tennessee’s Long-Term Care Facilities
Tennessee’s Unified-Command Group has made great efforts to ensure vulnerable populations are protected, especially residents of our state’s long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.
Today, Tennessee’s COVID-19 Unified-Command Group released new data on COVID-19 in the state’s long-term care facilities and outlined its action plan on how to prevent further cases and mitigate existing clusters within these facilities. Additionally, the Tennessee Department of Health will begin reporting the number of confirmed cases and COVID-19-related fatalities in all long-term care facilities across the state.
More information on actions to ensure the safety of Tennessee’s long-term care facilities can be found here.
Current Department of Health Testing Results (as of 2 p.m. 4/21)
Confirmed Cases
Hospitalizations
Fatalities
Recovered
Total Tests
7,842
775
166
4,012
114,980
For more information on COVID-19 in Tennessee, please visit the Tennessee Department of Health’s website here.
On the local level, Cannon County now has 10 positive cases of COVID-19. Four of the ten are now listed as recovered. 184 tests have been conducted in the county.
Today, Governor Bill Lee provided an update on Tennessee’s efforts regarding COVID-19 relief. Gov. Lee’s daily press conferences can be viewed live this week Monday through Thursday at 3 p.m. CDT here. Gov. Lee has also established a website specific to COVID-19 updates which can be found here.
Key Updates
Phased Reopening Begins Next Week
Next week, 89 of Tennessee’s 95 counties will begin a phased reopening of the state’s economy as we work to bring industries like retail, restaurants, and close contact services to a safe and methodical opening.
For the remaining six counties, Gov. Lee and the Economic Recovery Group are working directly with local officials and health departments in Tennessee’s major metropolitan areas (Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Sullivan counties) as they plan their unique re-open strategies.
Tennesseans must maintain habits like social distancing, working from home when possible, handwashing, and utilizing cloth masks. Certain restrictions will remain in place to ensure we do this properly and safely, such as discouraging social gatherings of 10 or more and restricting visitors at nursing homes and hospitals until further notice.
Gov. Lee and the Economic Recovery Group will provide specific guidance for Tennessee industries later this week. More information on Tennessee’s Economic Recovery Group is available here.
Relief for Tennessee’s Small and Rural Hospitals
COVID-19 has placed a considerable strain on Tennessee’s small and rural hospitals. Earlier this month, Gov. Lee announced $10 million in grants to support these hospitals that are facing financial strain due to the ongoing response to COVID-19.
Yesterday, the first four grants were distributed, totaling more than $1 million in state funds to the following organizations:
Lincoln Medical Center
Henderson County Community Hospital
Lauderdale County Community Hospital
Three Rivers Hospital in Waverly
In addition to grant assistance, these hospitals have also successfully drawn down $7.5 million in federal COVID relief funds. We anticipate several additional applications from small and rural hospitals that will be processed and verified in the coming days.
Additional information on Small and Rural Hospital Grants can be found here.
Data Update
Today represents our lowest increase in COVID-19 cases to date.
Our number of recovered cases continues to exceed the number of new positive cases.
Additional data updates from the Tennessee Department of Health can be found here.
Engaging Minority Communities
Dr. Kimberly Lamar from the Tennessee Department of Health’s Office of Minority Health Disparities Elimination provided an overview of efforts to engage minority communities to seek testing and treatment for COVID-19. Actions include:
The Health Disparities Task Force engages non-profits, faith leaders, legislators and local leaders to ensure regular communication with minority communities.
Expanded testing efforts coordinate with local health clinics and safety net clinics to ensure underserved populations have access to testing.
Focused resources to improve race/ethnicity data collection to better target testing and prevention efforts.
Launching additional public service announcements regarding minority health concerns during COVID-19 and additional communications to recognize front line workers in health care and essential businesses.
Financial Stimulus Accountability Group
Funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, began flowing to Tennessee last week, with our state expected to receive more than $2.3 billion with additional funding going directly to Memphis and Nashville.
In partnership with the legislature and constitutional officers, Financial Stimulus Accountability Group, will work to properly steward these funds and serve Tennesseans.
The first meeting of the Stimulus Financial Accountability Group will be held remotely tomorrow, April 22, and members will discuss major spending priorities and review the federal expectations for these funds.
Members of the group include:
Governor Bill Lee
Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally
House Speaker Cameron Sexton
Senator Bo Watson
Senator Raumesh Akbari
Representative Pat Marsh
Representative Harold Love Jr.
Justin P. Wilson, Comptroller of the Treasury
Commissioner Butch Eley, Finance & Administration
Stuart McWhorter, COVID-19 Unified Command
Additional information on the Stimulus Financial Accountability Group can be found here, and additional information from the U.S. Department of Treasury on the CARES ACT can be found here.
Current Department of Health Testing Results (as of 2 p.m. 4/21)
Confirmed Cases
Hospitalizations
Fatalities
Recovered
Total Tests
7,394
760
157
3,828
108,182
For more information on COVID-19 in Tennessee, please visit the Tennessee Department of Health’s website here.
Law enforcement officials are asking for your assistance in locating Jack Leroy Garcia, a 57 year-old Hispanic male. He has brown hair, brown eyes, is 6’2″ and weights 225 pounds.
Jack Leroy Garcia
Jack Leroy Garcia is wanted by the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for five counts of Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, one count of Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and 22 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. He should be considered dangerous. Jack Leroy Garcia has been added to the TBI’s Most Wanted list. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information directly leading to his arrest.
Once again, law enforcement is looking for Jack Leroy Garcia, a 57 year-old Hispanic male. He has brown hair, brown eyes, is 6’2″ and weights 225 pounds. A photo of Garcia is available with this story in the news section of wbry dot com.
If you have information about Garcia, please contact Lt. Travis Dunavant of the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office at 615-563-1000 or 1-800-TBI-FIND.
On April 17, 2020, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that USDA will use the funding and authorities provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), and other USDA existing authorities to fund the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The program includes two major elements. Secretary Perdue provided the following details about the program aimed at assisting farmers and ranchers as they struggle from the effects of the pandemic:
$16 billion in direct payments for farmers and ranchers: funded using the $9.5 billion emergency program in the CARES Act and $6.5 billion in Credit Commodity Corporation (CCC) funding. The program will provide direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted and will assist producers with additional adjustment and marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19. $9.6 billion for the livestock industry $5.1 billion for cattle $2.9 billion for dairy $1.6 billion for hogs $3.9 billion for row crop producers $2.1 billion for specialty crops producers $500 million for other crops Producers will receive a single direct payment determined using two calculations: Price losses that occurred January 1-April 15, 2020. Producers will be compensated for 85% of price loss during that period. Second part of the payment will be expected losses from April 15 through the next two quarters and will cover 30% of expected losses. The payment limit is $125,000 per commodity with an overall limit of $250,000 per individual or entity. Qualified commodities must have experienced a 5% price decrease between January and April. USDA is expediting the rule making process for the direct payment program and expects to begin sign-up for the new program in early May and to get payments out to producers by the end of May or early June. $3 billion in purchases of agriculture products: including meat, dairy and produce to support producers and provide food to those in need. USDA will partner with local food and regional distributors to deliver food to food banks, as well as community and faith-based organizations to provide food to those in need. USDA will begin with the procurement of an estimated $100 million per month in fresh fruits and vegetables, $100 million per month in a variety of dairy products, and $100 million per month in meat products. The distributors and wholesalers will then provide a pre-approved box of fresh produce, dairy, and meat products to be distributed by these partner organizations to those in need.
USDA will also utilize other available funding sources to purchase and distribute food to those in need: USDA has up to an additional $873.3 million available in Section 32 funding to purchase a variety of agricultural products for distribution to food banks. The use of these funds will be determined by industry requests, USDA agricultural market analysis, and food bank needs. The FFCRA and CARES Act provided an at least $850 million for food bank administrative costs and USDA food purchases, of which a minimum of $600 million will be designated for food purchases. The use of these funds will be determined by food bank need and product availability.
Gov. Lee’s daily press conferences are held each Monday through Thursday at 3 p.m. CDT and can be viewed here. Gov. Lee has also established a website specific to COVID-19 updates which can be found here.
In an aggressive push to test outside of traditional symptoms, Gov. Lee announced that more than 11,000 Tennesseans received free COVID-19 tests through the weekend efforts of the Unified-Command Group. Expanded testing will continue for the next two weekends – April 25-26 and May 2-3. The list of sites for this coming weekend will be forthcoming.
In addition to drive-through sites, all rural county health departments across the state offer free COVID-19 testing 5 days a week. A full list of county health departments can be accessed here.
To date, we have conducted 100,689 tests, with this weekend’s surge accounting for the largest number of tests conducted in our state over a two-day period.
More information on Tennessee’s expanded testing capacity is available here.
Data Update
For 17 consecutive days, we have seen only single digit percentage increases in the number of cases in our state;
Our hospitalization rate has consistently remained lower than national averages;
As of today, our number of recovered patients exceeds the number of active cases.
Safer at Home Expiring April 30, Phased Reopening Next Week
Today, Gov. Lee announced the order for Tennesseans to remain at home will expire April 30, 2020. The vast majority of businesses in 89 of Tennessee’s 95 counties will be allowed to re-open on May 1, with some slated to open on Monday, April 27.
The Economic Recovery Group (ERG), composed of 30 leaders from the public and private sector is crafting guidance to assist businesses in a safe reopening. The industry representatives participating in the ERG collectively represent over 140,000 Tennessee businesses that employ over 2.5M Tennesseans.
The Lee Administration is working directly with local officials and health departments in Tennessee’s major metropolitan areas (Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox and Sullivan counties) as they plan their re-open strategies.
More information on efforts to safely reboot Tennessee’s economy is available here, and more information about the Economic Recovery Group is available here.
Current Department of Health Testing Results (as of 2 p.m. 4/20)
Confirmed Cases
Hospitalizations
Fatalities
Recovered
Total Tests
7,238
730
152
3,575
100,689
For more information on COVID-19 in Tennessee, please visit the Tennessee Department of Health’s website here.
Today Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced more than 11,000 Tennesseans received free COVID-19 tests through the weekend efforts of Unified-Command Group to offer tests regardless of traditional symptoms. The Unified-Command Group is a joint partnership between the Tennessee Department of Health, the Tennessee Department of Military and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).
“Tennesseans across the state heeded the call of ‘when in doubt, get a test’ and we believe these efforts will be an important part of our overall strategy to reboot Tennessee’s economy,” said Gov. Lee. “While demand exceeded original projections, our Unified-Command group adapted quickly this weekend so that individuals who needed tests could receive them.”
Saturday turnout was the largest with more than 6,500 samples taken from 22 sites across all three grand divisions of the state. Tennessee Department of Health personnel and Soldiers and Airmen of the Tennessee National Guard operated 19 sites, four more than originally planned, to meet the testing demand.
The additional sites were opened in coordination with city and county officials to meet demand based on local needs. Hours were extended to ensure all participants received a test.
Sunday testing turnout exceeded expectations with more than 4,600 tests collected across 11 sites. On both days, many Tennesseans drove to sites outside their county of residence to obtain a test from a neighboring county that operated a weekend site.
“Since Gov. Lee’s expanded testing initiative announcement last week, we continue to see an increase in the number of citizens who want to be tested whether it’s on a weekday or weekend and regardless of symptoms,” said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey. “We thank our local partners for their help in making testing events a success and encourage citizens to utilize their local health departments for testing during the week.”
Expanded testing will continue for the next two weekends, April 25-26 and May 2-3. A full list of sites can be accessed here. In addition to drive-through sites, all rural county health departments across the state offer free COVID-19 testing 5 days a week.
Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency, announces due to March 29, 2020 straight-line wind damages in portions of DeKalb and Cannon counties, the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency has been authorized to implement a signup period for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). “Although we have been authorized to accept applications for cost-share assistance, there is no guarantee funding will become available. However, if you would like to be considered for cost-share approval, you should immediately complete an application for ECP cost-share assistance in hopes of anticipated program funding,” says Green.
DeKalb and Cannon counties’ ECP signup period began April 15, 2020 and will continue through 4:30 p.m. on May 15, 2020. The minimum amount of damage to be eligible for assistance under this program is $1,000, unless you are a limited resource producer (adjusted household income for each of the last two filing years is less than $25,750 (DeKalb Co.) and $27,974 (Cannon Co.). Persons that qualify as limited resource producers only have to incur $250 damage to meet the loss threshold. The damage must be on agricultural land (cropland, hayland, or pastureland) and the damage must be directly associated with the straight-line wind event.
Eligible expenses for this program are:
personal labor ($10) for fence repair/new installation, grading/shaping/leveling (where large trees are uprooted), and debris removal
hired labor (based on invoice or canceled check) for fence repair/new installation, grading/shaping/leveling (where large trees are uprooted), and debris removal
use of personal equipment (chainsaw, truck, tractor, heavy equipment) based on Tennessee’s established hourly rate for debris removal and grading/shaping/leveling (where large trees are uprooted)
invoice for contracted equipment (heavy equipment) for debris removal and grading/shaping/leveling (where large trees are uprooted)
invoice for purchased materials (fence repair/replacement)
documented use of materials on hand (fence repair/replacement)
Whoever incurs the expense of repair/clean-up from damages directly related to straight-line winds is eligible for 75% cost-share under this program. Limited resource producers are eligible for 90% cost-share under this program. It is very important to keep a running and itemized record of all expenses, invoices, use of equipment, and personal labor. Before and after photographs are also suggested to support your application. If you use equipment, we will need information detailing what type and horsepower. There are different cost-share rates for different types/sizes of equipment.
Landowners or tenants who wish to apply for USDA cost-share assistance should immediately telephone the DeKalb-Cannon County Farm Service Agency office to initiate application. Green reminds all applicants that, although his office is accepting the requests, this does not imply that cost share assistance will be made available. If funds become available, the applications processed will receive funding if all eligibility requirements are met. Applications received after 4:30 p.m. on May 15, 2020 will not be approved.
Green reminds potential applicants that USDA Service Centers are not permitted to allow in-person visits during COVID-19 Level 2 status. As a result, all applications and customer transactions must be conducted by telephone, postal mail, or e-mail. Please call the DeKalb-Cannon County FSA office at 615-597-8225, Ext. 2 to initiate your application process. The office staff will mail you an ECP applicant packet with the information you will need.
The Hometown Heroes Walk for Children originally scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2020 has been cancelled.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland, and Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron have issued mandatory stay at home orders and requested that large gatherings be cancelled. In Tennessee and in other states across the nation, the public has been asked to practice social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID 19.
“The Child Advocacy Center Board of Directors is concerned about public safety and we want to be respectful of the governor and mayors’ orders,” said Child Advocacy Center Director Sharon De Boer, “COVID 19 is spreading across Tennessee and we did not want to give a different message than the governor, mayors, and local law enforcement. That is why the board voted on Wednesday, April 15 to cancel the event.”
“The Child Advocacy Center is grateful for all of the loyal Hometown Heroes individuals and businesses that faithfully support this event annually,” continued De Boer. The contributions from the presenting sponsor Project One Four A David Price Foundation and other local sponsors including Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund, Middle Tennessee Electric Sharing Change, Middle Tennessee Emergency Physicians, Murfreesboro Noon Exchange Club, Ole South Properties, PATCO, and Wilson Bank and Trust will be used to support services for child abuse victims, child sexual abuse victims, and drug endangered children.”
Other loyal sponsors that the Child Advocacy Center is grateful for include: Andy Womack State Farm, Ascend Federal Credit Union, Charles R. Farrer Partnership, Chuck and Carol Farrer, Roy and Sharon Fields, Fraternal Order of Police Percy Priest Lodge, Kroger, MID TN GYN – Elizabeth La Roche MD, Mike Busey State Farm, Mike Gentry Insurance, Redstone Federal Credit Union, Season of Renewal Upscale Consignment Sale, John and Mary Rose Stracener, and Team Warner of Compass Real Estate.
Thirty percent of the Child Advocacy Center’s annual budget is from the support of local businesses and individuals. Contributions to the program make a difference in the lives of Rutherford and Cannon County child abuse victims and their families.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. To celebrate, the Child Advocacy Center is giving away FREE Hometown Heroes Walk for Children t-shirts from previous events. The sizes range from adult small to 3 XL. The Child Advocacy Center is asking that people take a photo wearing the shirt, post on Facebook and other social media, and share with your family and friends using #StopChildAbuseTN.
In observance of state and local social distancing guidelines and to ensure that our community is safe, we are asking that people call the Child Advocacy Center to schedule a time to pick up your t-shirt. 615-867-9000.
T-Shirt Pick Up Times:
Saturday, April 18, 2020 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Monday, April 20, 2020 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 21, 2020 from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. or until supplies last!
The Child Advocacy Center is not closed during the COVID 19 coronavirus pandemic. We continue to respond to emergency child abuse cases with the Department of Children Services, law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, and Our Kids Center (medical exams). If you know of a child that is being physically or sexually abused please report to the Department of Children’s Services at 877-237-0004. If it is a life threatening situation please call 911. “This call for help activates the outstanding Child Protective Investigative Team that is here to help child abuse victims and their families,” concluded De Boer.
Steps continue to adjust deadlines and regulations to make the Stay at Home guideline easier to handle.
Today, Gov. Lee signed Executive Order 28 to amend Executive Order 15 and remove additional regulatory barriers to facilitate the treatment and containment of COVID-19.
The order’s provisions include, among others:
Extending until October 1 the July 1 deadline for firefighters to obtain a medical examination making them eligible for certain employment-related cancer benefits;
Suspending the collaborating physician requirement for nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide increased flexibility regarding where these professionals can provide health care services to facilitate the COVID-19 response;
Allowing nursing school graduates waiting to take the national nursing exam to go to work during the emergency under the supervision of a licensed nurse to boost health care resources;
Allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to write orders for home health services to address the increased need for such services;
Expanding the facilities in which autopsies may be performed to address the potential need for increased autopsies;
Allows medical laboratory personnel to work from home in reviewing data and reporting results;
Protects HIPAA information sent by the Department of Health to first responders and law enforcement personnel by making disclosure agreements the equivalent of an emergency order
Extends the price gouging law for another 15-day period (the maximum allowed under law).
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is announcing new child care assistance to support families that are serving the state in essential workforce positions.
Applications for payment assistance will be accepted online throughout the state of emergency here. After an essential employee is approved for the program, TDHS will make arrangements to pay for child care at the TDHS licensed program where the child is currently served.
TDHS is also partnering with the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee to establish free child care for school aged children of essential workers. Essential employees with school aged children who need care will be able to register at these locations and access care at no charge during the COVID-19 state of emergency.
The expanded testing effort launches this weekend, April 18-19 with the Tennessee National Guard establishing 15 drive-through testing sites across the state. Drive-through testing sites will also be available during the weekends of April 25-26 and May 2-3. A full list of sites is available here, and additional information is available here.
Tennessee Department of Health nurses and Tennessee National Guard medics will perform tests at these drive-through sites and results are projected to be delivered to participants within 72 hours of testing. In addition to drive-through testing sites, Tennesseans can get a test free of charge, five days a week at every rural county health department in the state.
Current Department of Health Testing Results (as of 2 p.m. 4/16)
Confirmed Cases
Hospitalizations
Fatalities
Recovered
Total Tests
6,589
711
142
3,017
87,273
For more information on COVID-19 in Tennessee, please visit the Tennessee Department of Health’s website here.
Gov. Lee’s daily press conferences will resume next Monday through Thursday at 3 p.m. CDT and can be viewed here. Gov. Lee has also established a website specific to COVID-19 updates which can be found here.
