Josh Peterson

Coffee County Sheriff’s Department sent a notification Thursday that three employees of the department have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

“On May 27, 2020 we were notified by a staff member that they have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus,” the department said in a release. “This is the first positive result we have had with our department by either staff or inmate. As of this date we have a total of 3 employees that have tested positive for Covid-19. These three employees share an apartment together. We have notified the remaining staff and have provided necessary information regarding testing. Since inception this department have followed all National, State, and local protocols regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. The contact originated from outside Coffee County. As of this date there have been no positive tests within the Coffee County Jail population. “

According to Frank Watkins with the sheriff’s department, the three individuals in question have been removed from work and have been quarantined. They are not in the hospital. 

As of 2 p.m. Thursday, there are now 21,679 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee. This includes 356 deaths and 1,689 hospitalizations. There are 14,632 cases classified as recovered, leaving 7,047 active cases in Tennessee. This is approximately 343 fewer active cases than the prior day. There have ben 415,989 total tests performed.

In Coffee County, there are 68 confirmed cases of the virus with 50 reported recoveries, according to Tennessee Department of Health. This leaves Coffee County with 18 active cases, which is is three fewer cases than the prior day and six fewer cases than two days ago. 

The Manchester City School District is presently completing a grant renewal for the Lottery for Education Afterschool’s Program or LEAPS. In November 2002, Tennesseans voted to create a state lottery. The General Assembly established that profits from the lottery go toward specific educational programs: college scholarships, early childhood programs and afterschool programs.

As provided under TCA 49-6-702, 100 percent of monies constituting an unclaimed prize shall be deposited into an afterschool account for the purpose of administering a system of competitive grants and technical assistance for eligible organizations providing afterschool educational programs within Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Education’s Office of Extended Learning administers funding for LEAPs with the goal of enhancing academic opportunities for students. Grants are awarded for multiyear contracts by a panel of independent readers who score them using a detailed rubric. The present grant will conclude in June of 2020.

Manchester City Schools has been a recipient of this grant for the past 6 years. This after school program operates at College Street Elementary and Westwood Elementary Monday through Friday from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. when school is in session.

Students receive a healthy snack, physical activity, academic and homework assistance, additional help for students with a deficiency in skills and standards, and many enrichment activities. The electives range from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) arts and crafts, additional physical education activities, and drama. The program has been very successful over the past 6 years. The Manchester City Schools district plans to expand the new grant by increasing the number of students served at both sites. If approved, the number of students served could grow to 600.

The grant is due by June 19, 2020. Awards will be announced sometime in August of 2020. For more information about this program or review the grant application, please contact the Manchester City School’s office

Statistics released Thursday by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development show a staggering increase in unemployment for each of Tennessee’s 95 counties in April as many businesses closed to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

The unprecedented and historic spike in unemployment impacted some counties more drastically than others, but no area of Tennessee escaped the pandemic’s effect on the state’s workforce.

In Coffee County, the unemployment rate hit 19.8 percent. This is up 16.4 points from 3.4 percent in March of 2020 and is up 17 full points from 2.8 percent in April of 2019. In the surrounding area, Bedford County unemployment rate is 18.7 percent, Franklin County 21.1 percent, Grundy County 25.3 percent and Warren County 24.3%.

Fayette County had Tennessee’s lowest unemployment rate in April. At 9.4%, the county’s rate increased by 6.1 percentage points when compared to its revised March rate of 3.3%

Fayette, Weakley, and Hardeman were the only counties in the state with unemployment rates below 10% in April.

Sevier County recorded Tennessee’s highest unemployment rate for the month. The county’s new jobless figure of 29.5% represents a staggering spike of 26 percentage points when compared to its revised March rate of 3.5%.

The Coffee County Tullahoma Health Department has established new COVID-19 assessment site hours for county residents that feel they need to be tested.

Coffee County Tullahoma’s COVID-19 assessment site hours are now 8-11 a.m. Monday through Friday at the department location at 615 Wilson Ave. in Tullahoma. 

Coffee County residents who have concerns that they may have symptoms of COVID-19 can contact their local health department for assessment and testing. Test results may be available within 72 hours, depending on the volume of tests that the testing lab receives.

Coffee County residents can call the Coffee County Tullahoma Health Department at (931) 455-9369 between 8 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday – Friday for testing availability.

For general information, Coffee County residents can call the South Central Regional COVID-19 Hotline at (931) 490-8312 between 8 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday – Friday.

Tennessee’s Coronavirus Public Information Lines are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., CDT Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 833-556-2476 or 877-857-2945.

Additional information about Tennessee’s assessment sites is available for each county on the Tennessee Department of Health website at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/remote-assessment-sites.html.

There are many things Coffee County residents can do to reduce the impact of COVID-19:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water (or alcohol-based hand rub) for at least 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing;
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
• Stay home when you are sick;
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with your arm or a tissue;
• Clean and disinfect objects (e.g., cell phone, computer) and high touch surfaces regularly;
• Practice social/physical distancing from others, be safer at home; and,
• Wear cloth facemasks or coverings in public.

All Tennesseans, especially those in high-risk populations, should take the following actions to reduce the possibility of getting sick with COVID-19:
• Keep space (at least 6’) between yourself and others;
• Limit your time in public to essential needs only, such as grocery trips, medical care, pharmacy needs or emergencies;
• When you are in public, avoid crowds as much as possible, and keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often;
• Avoid non-essential travel, especially on airlines and cruise ships; and,
• Stay home as much as possible to reduce your risk of being exposed.
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Visit the Tennessee Department of Health online at www.tn.gov/health.

As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, there are now 21,306 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee. This includes 353 deaths and 1,647 hospitalizations. There are 13,916 cases classified as recovered, leaving 7,390 active cases in the state. This is about 231 fewer active cases than the previous day.

There have been 409,630 total tests performed. This means that of all of those tested, about 5.2 percent are testing positive.

In Coffee County, there remain 66 confirmed cases of the virus with 45 recoveries. This leaves 21 active cases here, which is three fewer cases than the previous day. There have been 2,125 negative tests performed in Coffee County.

The Coffee County School system is continuing its summer feeding program for those who need meals.

Every Monday, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. you may pick up meals at Raider Academy. According to Carlan Cotten with Coffee County Schools, the system is handing out five breakfast meals and five lunch meals during that one distribution to help keep students fed at home through the summer months. The program is aimed toward Coffee County students under the age of 18.

Students do not have to be with adults when meals are picked up, according to Cotten. The program will take place every Monday through the summer up through July 20.