Josh Peterson

There have now been 7,070 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee as of 2 p.m. Sunday. With 3,344 people classified as recovered, that makes the number of active cases across the entire state at 3,726. There have been 148 deaths and 724 hospitalizations. As of 2 p.m. Sunday, 97,098 tests have been performed. However, those numbers are expected to climb after the weekend’s drive-thru testing sites across the state.

In Coffee County, there have now been 20 confirmed cases of the virus, with five people classified as recovered. Meaning there are 15 active cases. There have been 444 negative tests performed in Coffee County. These numbers don’t take into account drive-thru testing that took place between noon and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Coffee County administrative Plaza. 

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development has moved to a staggered schedule for unemployment claimants completing their weekly certifications. This change will spread out the number of people certifying over three days, creating a more responsive experience for claimants using Jobs4TN.gov, the department announced.

More than 324,000 Tennesseans have applied for unemployment benefits over the last four weeks, creating an unprecedented demand on the unemployment computer system. While claimants can certify any day of the week, most choose Sunday, putting a workload 21 times the normal rate of usage onto the system.

Starting Sunday, April 19, claimants will have access to complete their weekly certifications according to the last digit of their social security number.

• Sunday – 0, 1, 2, 3
• Monday – 4, 5, 6
• Tuesday – 7, 8, 9
• Wed. – Sat. – All numbers

When a claimant tries to certify and clicks the tab, if they are accessing the system on the correct day, it will allow them to proceed. If it is not the claimant’s scheduled day, the system will not let them certify.

If a claimant misses their scheduled day, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are open certification days for any social security number.

Once a claimant completes the weekly certification process, their financial institution typically posts the benefit payment to their account or debit card within 48 to 72 hours.

For claimants who normally certify on Sunday, switching to a Monday or Tuesday certification will change the day of their weekly deposit.

Claimants must certify each week to ensure eligibility for benefit payments and to avoid the potential for overpayment. If someone does not certify for a particular week, they have five weeks to go back and do so, but the state is unable to process the payment for that week until they complete the missed certification.

Tullahoma City Administrator, Jennifer Moody, announced last week that City Hall will now be closed to the public for the safety of employees and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic until Sunday, May 3, 2020. All services performed at City Hall will continue online or by phone.

“In light of Governor Lee’s extended order requiring Tennesseans to stay home and our own City Stay at Home order through the end of the month, city facilities will also remain closed,” said Moody. “We will continue to have a group of essential employees still at work to perform city services, but the building will be closed. Citizens may call or do business online.”

This additional time will also allow for workers to complete the installation of new glass windows in the customer service area at City Hall.

City government meetings are being conducted virtually. Most recently, the Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen conducted business by video conference and broadcast using Facebook Live, as well as broadcasting to Charter Ch. 193 and Lighttube Ch. 6. Citizens may join in watching the next City Board meeting scheduled for Monday, April 27, at 5:30 p.m.

The City of Tullahoma departments remain open with modified schedules and are focused on maintaining the health, safety and welfare of our citizens and City team members.

Our police and fire departments continue to operate at full capacity. If you have an emergency, dial 911.

All public walk-in services or lobbies, including the lobby of the firehalls, City Hall, public works, the animal shelter and Planning and Codes are closed. The City will release more information, so please check our Facebook page or Tullahomatn.gov for future releases. The City will reassess the situation on May 4, 2020 and decide about re-opening City Hall and other facilities.

Tullahoma officials  want to encourage citizens to call in or e-mail for assistance. These changes are designed to protect the public and our staff, so please be advised of the following modified operations:

City Hall/City Recorder
Please call 455-2648 or email Rosemary Golden, City Recorder, if you need assistance.
Tullahoma Parks and Recreation
Tullahoma Parks and Recreation has closed the community centers and playgrounds. These areas contain many common surfaces that can be a source of contamination. Parks does encourage residents to enjoy the greenways and park areas, but be advised that bathrooms and picnic facilities are closed.
State parks and natural areas have advised that they remain closed.

Finance
The coronavirus pandemic is affecting small businesses in a variety of ways. From loss of business to remote work, things are changing fast during the COVID-19 outbreak and businesses are being forced to adapt. If you have a small business loan with the City, we understand the difficulties it has created for Tullahoma small business owners, and we want to remind you to contact the Finance Department if you need interim assistance with your loan payments.
Please call 455-2648 or email Finance Director, Sue Wilson, if you need assistance.
Tullahoma Police Department
If you have an emergency dial 911. The police department is fully staffed and operational.
The police department lobby is closed. In order to minimize exposure to the Coronavirus for the safety of the public and our staff, the Tullahoma Police Department is immediately suspending walk-in traffic for accident report request service. In order to receive your reports, please call 455-0530, 455-2648 or email City Recorder, Rosemary Golden, at rgodlen@tullahomatn.gov, and you can request that a copy of your report be e-mailed or mailed to your address.
Please provide the following information:
Name; e-mail; mailing address (if you want mailed USPS); phone number, date and time of incident.
The fee for this service has been temporarily suspended.
Please call the Tullahoma Police Department at 455-0530 or email Police Chief, Jason Williams, if you need assistance.

Tullahoma Fire Department
If you have an emergency, dial 911. The fire department is fully staffed and operational.
The lobbies at Fire Hall 1 and 2 are closed and visitors are not allowed.
Please call Fire Hall 1 at 455-0936 or email Fire Chief, Richard Shasteen, if you need assistance.

Tullahoma Public Works
Solid waste routes and brush pick up are running regular routes. Curbside recycling is still suspended. The lobby at Public Works is closed.
The recycling center is closed for drop off.
Please call 454-1768 or email the Director of Public Works, Butch Taylor, if you need assistance.

Tullahoma Animal Shelter
Animal Control Officers are still on call. Please call 454-9580 or email Animal Control Supervisor, Jeff Wilson, if you need assistance.

Planning and Codes
The Planning and Codes offices are closed, but the staff is still operating.
Please call 455-2282 or email the Director of Planning and Codes, Lee Lawson, if you need assistance.

Individuals can assist us in practicing everyday prevention measures, in compliance with the CDC recommendations for minimizing possible exposure to COVID-19:
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others.
• Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean commonly touched surfaces regularly.
• Select a room in your house to utilize if you must self-quarantine and identify someone who can bring you supplies to avoid having to make trips.
• Stay informed on the latest updates.

Coffee County’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 jumped to 17 as of 2 p.m. Thursday, this according to the Tennessee Department of Health. That number is up from 13 on Wednesday. Of those 17, four are considered recovered. 

Statewide there are 6,262 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 141 deaths reported. Across the state there have been 691 hospitalizations and 2,786 classified as recovered. In Tennessee there have been 85,049 tests conducted. 

The Tennessee Department of Health will offer 33 drive-through events this weekend (April 18-19) to make COVID-19 testing available to Tennesseans who are concerned about their health or the health of their family members. This includes a drive-thru testing site at the Coffee County Administrative Plaza from 12-3 p.m. Sunday, April 19.

Anyone with health concerns, or who has concerns about the health of a family member, is invited to come to one of these locations this weekend to receive testing for COVID-19. This testing will be provided at no cost to participants, and those who come for testing can remain in their vehicles throughout the process of collecting their samples.

Nurses and/or National Guard medics at each site will collect nasal swabs from those who want to be tested, and test results may be available within 72 hours after the samples arrive at the lab, depending on lab volume.

Unemployment claims continue to be incredibly high across the country and right here in Tennessee. The week ending April 11, 74,772 new unemployment claims were filed by Tennesseans. Combined with the prior three weeks, that makes 324,501 new claims in Tennessee over the past four weeks, with the peak week being April 4, when 116,141 filed for unemployment. For a reference, 2,702 claims were filed on March 14, just before the COVID-19 pandemic began affecting the job market.

More than 5.2 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, putting the total at more than 22 million Americans out of work in the past month.

This number reflects a larger job loss in 30 days than the amount of jobs added to the economy since The Great Recession. Although official unemployment numbers aren’t yet available, two professors tracking the numbers in real time report that unemployment is at 20 percent, a rate not seen since The Great Depression.

Below is a statement from Manchester City Schools regarding the next few weeks and the end of the academic school year: 

Manchester City Schools continue to work with our students and families as the 2019-2020 school year comes to a close. This is a school year like no other, but we hope to provide as much support and guidance during this difficult time as possible. Below are activities that will be occurring each week from now until May 22, 2020, the last day of the school year.

• Week of April 20 – the past few weeks have been emotional for everyone in our community. For this week, we are encouraging teachers, students, and families to take time to have fun and enjoy learning opportunities that may not involve written work. Normally, we are taking field trips, having field days, or other activities that are memorable for our students. Teachers may provide opportunities for a virtual field trip, a scavenger hunt, class Google Hangout, or other activities that students would enjoy. “Social distancing” is still in effect. This week is meant to take care of the social and emotional needs of everyone. Have fun and make memories.
Next year’s 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students should return pre-registration materials this week to Westwood Middle School. If you have not received information, please contact your school’s principal.

• Week of April 27 – learning opportunities currently taking place will resume. Online learning will continue as well as learning packets. We will finish the school year strong.

• Week of May 4 – learning opportunities will continue. The learning for the year will be nearing an end.
It is possible that Chromebook collection for WMS will take place this week. We will wait as long as possible.

• Week of May 11 – we will begin the process of closing school for the year. Guidance from the governor on the stay at home order will help determine activities of the week. If possible, we will make arrangements for students to return items that belong to school (books, etc.), collect their personal items, pick up report cards, and hopefully receive the assignment of next year’s teacher. Yearbooks and other items will be picked up if the publishers have them completed.
Elementary students who checked out Chromebooks will return those.

• Week of May 18 – preparing for the 2020 -2021 school year. Students and families will be contacted by the teacher that the student will have when school resumes. Kindergarten student families will have an opportunity to pre-register and receive information. Kindergarten pre-registration will be dependent on travel restrictions.

*All activities will take place with social distancing rules in place.

We will continue to provide student meals on Mondays at Westwood Elementary from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

As more guidance is released from Governor Lee, decisions regarding summer feeding and the Extended School Program will be communicated.

We appreciate everyone working with our district to help our students through these difficult times.

In the wake of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee extending his executive Stay-at-Home order, Manchester Mayor Lonnie Norman released a statement Thursday to communicate with Manchester residents about operations at city hall.

Norman said the city will continue to operate on a four-day work week through May 1 and all offices will conduct business by phone from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

You can see the full statement below:
“Gov. Bill Lee has extended his “Stay-at-Home” order until April 30, with plans to reopen the economy in May. The next two weeks are critical to our public health, and we are relying on every individual to use common sense and make responsible decisions. As individuals and as a community, we can make smart choices that will protect our families, keep our most vulnerable safe, and give our health care partners time to combat this virus. Each of us has the responsibility to follow Governor Lee’s “Stay-at-Home” order, which is outlined in Executive Order 22.

“We’re going to be faced with a lot of challenges, even coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our economy has been profoundly impacted, and we are going to have to as a community come together. There are a lot of people in our community that have lost their jobs, their businesses, and their savings. Know that I will continue to do everything in my power to help our community persevere and recover.

“The City of Manchester offices will continue four-day work weeks through May 1st. All offices will conduct business by phone and online Monday thru Thursday from 7am till 5:30pm. We encourage residents to utilize our online services www.cityofmanchestertn.com, drive-up window, and night deposit boxes. The City of Manchester will continue to notify residents of any significant changes to City services through the media as necessary. If you know an elderly resident that needs assistance, please contact us at 723-8288 or 728-4652. As always, the safety and security of our residents and employees remains our top priority.”

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced Thursday that the Paycheck Protection Program would not be accepting any more applications for the $349 billion program, because it is already out of money.

The Payroll Protection Program is one of the federal government’s key pieces to the recently-passed stimulus to help small businesses and employees stay afloat.

SBA reports that it approved more than 1.6 million Paycheck Protection Program loan applications totaling more than $339 billion from 4,900 ending institutions.

One of the biggest draws of the program is that businesses who borrow and don’t lay off workers in the next eight weeks can have their loans forgiven.