Local Coronavirus Info: (UPDATED 4/6/20 1:30 pm)

• All Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center events until May 1, 2020 have been cancelled.
• TN STATE PARKS CLOSED: In support of Governor Lee’s Executive Order 23, we have made the difficult decision to close Tennessee State Parks (INCLUDING PANTHER CREEK STATE PARK IN HAMBLEN COUNTY). This closure is effective April 4, 2020 and will be in place through April 14, 2020. This is a complete closure of trails, facilities, and access to all Tennessee State Parks and Designated State Natural Areas.

Governor Bill Lee Orders Tennesseans to stay home: “Over the last few weeks, we have seen decreases in movement around the state as Tennesseans socially distance and stay at home,” said Gov. Lee. “However, in recent days we have seen data indicating that movement may be increasing and we must get these numbers trending back down. I have updated my previous executive order to clearly require that Tennesseans stay at home unless they are carrying out essential activities.”

Hamblen County Education Department will not be able to continue running bus routes with breakfast and lunch after March 30, due to the Governor’s statement to stay home. Dr. Superintendent Jeff Perry said the following schools will remain open for food collection: West High, Fairview-Marguerite, Manley, Hillcrest and Russellville.
UPDATE: Although we can’t continue to run all bus routes due to the Governor’s statement, we will go to 17 stops to bring breakfast and lunches to students under the age of 18 Stops and schedule are down. Also, we’ll have meals to pick up at the following schools: West High, Fairview-Marguerite, Manley Intermediate, Hillcrest, and Russellville Intermediate.

Greeneville Police Department Officers have been proudly assisting the Greeneville City Schools meal program since it began. The program is now being expanded to provide breakfast and lunch for every child in Greeneville. Enough meals to cover seven days per week for all children under age 19. Pickup locations are at Greeneville High School and Hal Henard Elementary. No paperwork required. Pickup times are Monday’s, Tuesday’s, and Thursday’s from 10am – 12:30pm. Delivery options are available to those without transportation by calling 423-787-8019.

From Bill Brittain, Hamblen County Mayor (Mar 31):
The Hamblen County Courthouse and Justice Center will be closed starting Wednesday, April 1st to follow the Tennessee governor’s guidelines of only essential employees working for the next two weeks. Anyone needing services with the county government should call the appropriate departments to determine if service is available by phone or online. The closure will remain in effect until April 15. See video below:

TN DEPT OF EDUCATION PARTNERS WITH PBS TO PROVIDE CONTENT:
https://www.tn.gov/education/news/2020/3/25/tdoe-announces-partnership-with-pbs-to-deliver-daily-instructional-content-for-tennessee-students.html?fbclid=IwAR0v6Y1q3OhBsm5MFBDM_0VGF6jHgf08k7clD8T6ygG_2CK4eK4nLT0jxn0

Resources:
https://www.tn.gov/governor/covid-19.html State of TN Covid-19
https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html Track the number of cases in Tennessee
https://myutk.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/a4614b1566f44f559d9c5995ebe9c49d TN case tracker provided by UTK
https://covid19.healthdata.org/projections Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (how many hospital beds, projected need for ventilators, etc)
https://www.jobs4tn.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx TN Unemployment Info
https://www.facebook.com/TNDeptofHealth/ TN Dept. of Health
https://www.coronavirus.gov/ Federal Government, CDC’s Covid-19
https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus FEMA
https://www.facebook.com/CityofMorristown/ City of Morristown’s Facebook
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/ OSHA Covid-19 info
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know?fbclid=IwAR1ocIBbmu8ViSfyVHBF8KPrRk1HNnJW_UQbqlmVM5vrTIIxoj06Oiplozg Federal Economic impact payments: What you need to know

BUSINESS STATUSES DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK:
[Note: This is a very fluid situation. This list is not meant to be comprehensive. Before visiting any location, it is smart to call first.]
– WAL-MART OPEN 7AM TIL 8:30PM TFN
– INGLES MARKETS OPEN 6AM TIL 10PM TFN
– FOOD CITY-OPEN 7AM TIL 10PM AND ADULTS 65 AND OVER INVITED TO COME BETWEEN 7 AND 8 TO AVOID STORE CONGESTION
– ALDI’S IN MORRISTOWN CLOSING AN HOUR EARLY WILL CLOSE AT 7PM TFN
– COLLEGE SQUARE MALL CLOSED EFFECTIVE 3/20/20
– MOST DOLLAR GENERAL STORES ARE CLOSING AN HOUR EARLY AN OPENING HOUR WILL BE DESIGNATED FOR SENIOR SHOPPING
-CENTER FOR WELLNESS BY APPT ONLY & CURBSIDE PICKUP FOR REFILLS
-MORRISTOWN PARKS AND RECREATION EASTER EGGSELLENT ADVENTURE APRIL 7TH CANCELLED
-PLANET FITNESS MORRISTOWN CLOSED BUT OFFERING ONLINE WORKOUTS ON FACEBOOK
-ALPS ADULT DAY SERVICES SERVICES SUSPENDED TFN
-JEFFERSON COCKE UTILITY DISTRICT DRIVE THROUGH ONLY
-CHARTER SPECTRUM IN MORRISOTWN OPEN 10AM TIL 6PM

STAYING HEALTHY AND SLOWING THE VIRUS’ SPREAD:

• CDC SUGGEST GATHERINGS OF 10 OR LESS.
• WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN AND DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE
• AVOID SHAKING HANDS
• KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM OTHERS
• ELDERLY ENCOURAGED TO STAY INDOORS
• IF POSSIBLE WORK FROM HOME.
• IF YOU ARE SICK, STAY HOME, AND CALL THE DOCTOR!

SCHOOLS (NOTE: On March 24th, Governor Bill Lee called for schools in Tennessee to be closed until April 24th due to the coronavirus outbreak.
-Project Graduation in Hamblen County has been cancelled.
-Hamblen County closed through until April 24th (ESP childcare program and the feeding program will continue)
-Hawkins County closed through April 24th
-Grainger County closed through April 24th
-Claiborne County closed through April 24th
-Jefferson County closed through April 24th
-Cocke County closed through April 24th
-Cornerstone Academy closed through April 24th
-Lakeway Christian Academy closed through April 24th
-Sevier County closed through April 24th
-Hancock County closed through April 24th
-Greene County closed through April 24th
-Greeneville City closed through April 24th
-Rogersville City closed through April 24th
-TCAT Morristown – offsite training
-University of Tennessee classes online
-WSCC classes online
-Newport Grammar closed through April 24th
-Carson Newman and Tusculum University online only

FROM THE CITY OF MORRISTOWN:
Are you or a loved one in need of basic supplies, food or medicine and are unable to leave your home due to medical concerns? Volunteers with the local task force are offering delivery services to help those in need. If you are in the at-risk population that is unable to leave their homes during this time and have no other means to receive the items you need, please contact Kelly Smith at (423) 586-1668 or email at smithk@hcboe.net.

Listen to 104.7 WLNQ for on air updates on further school, business and event cancellations, postponements, delays or hour changes.