Josh Peterson

The Manchester Annual Christmas Parade is set for this Saturday – Nov. 28. The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The deadline has passed for float registration.

For those wishing to watch the parade, you can find a spot along US Highway 41 North between the intersection of Highway 55 and W. Fort St. You can also position along W. Fort. St. on the downtown square.

There will not be a downtown tree-lighting ceremony this year due to COVID-19. The parade route is below.

The City of Manchester is looking for a volunteer to fill an open seat on the Manchester Tourism and Community Development Commission.

This term will run through Sept. of 2021. Anyone seeking appointment must be a resident or a property owner of the City of Manchester.

This commission generally meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at Manchester City Hall. Deadline to return applications is Nov. 30 and the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen will confirm an appointment on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Return applications to Manchester City Hall at 200 W. Fort St.

Click here for the required “citizen participation form.” 

There are currently 46,245 active cases of COVID-19 virus in Tennessee, this according to numbers provided by the Tennessee Department of Health on Sunday.

There have been 55 new deaths reported, bringing the total of confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Tennessee to 3,929.
According to TDH, there are approximately 318 active cases of the virus in Coffee County. There have been 41 deaths reported in Coffee County that are related to the virus.

Among school-aged children in Coffee County, there have been 37 cases reported over the last 14 days.

Pertaining to hospital availability, 83 % of floor beds remain available across the state, 87% of ICU beds remain available and 28% of adult ventilators remain available.

Coffee County Mayor Gary Cordell has released the following statement regarding the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Coffee County:

“For the past few weeks, COVID cases have been on the rise, both nationally and in Coffee County. We have lost 36 people to this disease, and many more have been seriously ill, taxing our health care system and creating financial and emotional hardships for a number of families.

“We are all tired of COVID-19. But COVID-19 is still here, whether we are tired of it or not. To get this pandemic under control, we must renew our efforts to protect each other, through social distancing, sanitation, hygiene, and masks. Cloth masks are not a cure-all. They are not equal to the N-95 masks worn by health care professionals. But state and federal officials – doctors, not politicians—say they are a key part of preventing the spread of the disease. When you exhale, you spray tiny droplets of water that could contain the COVID-19 virus and carry it to others. A cloth mask helps reduce the spread and distance of those droplets. You could be carrying the virus right now, without symptoms.

“Masks keep you from passing on the virus to the people you know, and the people you love. To a lesser extent, masks may also help protect the people wearing them. It is my hope as mayor that we will all take steps to undo this latest spike in COVID cases. It is the right thing to do. This is not about politics, or control, or authority. It is about protecting the lives of the people we hold dear. I remain confident that the people of Coffee County can do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.

“Our numbers of active cases continue to rise, and our death rate continues to rise as well. I am strongly encouraging everyone to use common sense and do the following: Please, be diligent about handwashing, use social distancing, avoiding large gatherings, and the proper use of masks. We are adults, privileged to live in the greatest country on Earth. It is our responsibility to behave in a manner that protects those around us. We are very concerned about our citizens and keeping the them safe from any threat.”

Tennessee has been selected as one of four states to participate in a pilot program for delivery of the Pfizer Inc. COVID-19 vaccine now under development. This program is designed to address distribution challenges posed by requirements for ultra-cold storage of the vaccine.

“We have a robust plan in place for distribution of this vaccine, and we’re honored to be chosen to help establish a model for other states in providing COVID-19 vaccine to their residents once it’s approved,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP.

Tennessee will participate in the pilot along with New Mexico, Rhode Island and Texas, states chosen based on their differences in size, population diversity and immunization infrastructure. Lessons learned through this program will help support all states in development of effective immunization programs for this COVID-19 vaccine.

Once the vaccine is approved, Tennessee and other states participating in the pilot will not receive vaccine doses earlier than other states by virtue of the pilot. Pfizer expects to have enough safety data on the vaccine from ongoing trials before the end of November before applying for emergency use authorization. Pfizer is working with Operation Warp Speed and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that following approval, their COVID-19 vaccine can be provided to those most in need as quickly and equitably as possible.

TDH in coordination with other state and local agencies submitted an initial draft of the COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for Tennessee to the CDC on October 16, 2020. This plan will be modified as more is understood about the virus and the availability of approved vaccines currently in development. Tennessee is preparing to begin distribution of COVID-19 vaccine as early as December 2020.

TDH is working to onboard hospitals, pharmacies, clinics and other partners capable of storing vaccine and administering it to priority populations. TDH will ensure distribution of vaccination sites across all 95 counties, especially in rural counties and areas with high concentrations of people in vulnerable populations. Providers who wish to administer COVID-19 vaccine may find more information online at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/covid-19-vaccine-information.html.