Josh Peterson

Coffee County District Attorney General Craig Northcott provided some clarity over the weekend for citizens concerned with police enforcement of Governor Bill Lee’s executive “stay at home” order.

“You do not need a letter proving you’re an essential employee to travel in Coffee County and police won’t stop you to ask for one,” Northcott posted on social media.

Since Lee’s order issued on Thursday, many have been concerned about whether or not they need special letters from employers to travel in the county to and from jobs. Northcott’s opinion should offer clarity for those living in Coffee County.

Newest closures & changes to know about

**Beginning over the weekend, the caretakers at Rutledge Falls recreation area closed the area to public access until further notice for safety and security of the public.

**All of Tennessee’s 56 state parks, including Old Stone Fort State Park in Manchester, will be closed on April 4, and remain closed through April 14.

 **Walmart will allow fewer customers in the store at one time.

The nation’s largest retailer said it will now allow no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly about 20% of the average store’s capacity.

To oversee the restriction, workers will mark a queue at a single-entry door, and direct arriving customers there, where they’ll be admitted one by one. Walmart joins Target and others in trying to limit the number of customers in the store to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

There are now 3,633 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee as of 2 p.m. Sunday. This includes five cases in Coffee County, 44 total deaths, 328 hospitalizations and 295 recovered. To date, 45,300 tests have been conducted in Tennessee.

Arnold Engineeering Development Complex on Friday confirmed its first case of COVID-19. Since that announcement, AEDC announced that the base has moved to an “operational urgent” posture effective on Monday, April 6. In an operationally urgent posture, the commander will curtail some mission activities and limit access to the installation to those employees required to complete critical test missions and support functions.

Unity Medical Center announced that it is preparing additional space off-site for patient care. The off-site unit is located across the street from the hospital campus in the Pavilion at 482 Interstate Drive. Unity explained that it wanted to be as prepared as possible for an influx of patients presenting with SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus responsible for the disease COVID-19.

Tennessee has over 3,000 documented cases but most experts believe that this number will rise dramatically as the ability to test becomes more available. The plan for the off-site unit is to care for less acute, non-COVID-19 patients still needing inpatient care. Treating these patients off-site leaves more room at the hospital itself for sicker or contagious patients.

“We hope that we will never be forced to use the off-site unit for patient care because that would mean that we are being overrun with seriously ill patients,” stated Ashoke “Bappa” Mukherji, Chairman of the Board of Unity. “However, if there is a surge of COVID-19 patients and larger hospitals cannot continue to take our transfers, we need to be as ready as possible.”

Unity would utilize physicians, nurses and staff from their two outpatient clinics to staff the off-site unit.

“If we are faced with a situation where patient needs exceed the hospital’s capacity, we would be shutting down the clinics anyway to help prevent further spread of the virus,” stated Martha McCormick, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital. “It may be a little different for our clinic staff to provide inpatient care, but they are completely capable and up to the task.” She continued, “The idea is not to place patients in an area where they would receive substandard care, it is to continue to treat patients and minimize the risk they would be infected when receiving the care they require during a pandemic.”

Kenneth Ware, Unity’s Chief Nursing Officer, reported that the off-site unit would ready for operation in a matter of days and could house as many as 12-14 patients.

“I’m incredibly proud of our staff that continues to show up to work on the front lines every day and is willing to step up to whatever challenges are thrown at them,” explained Ware. “Like most hospitals, we have never had to open off-site inpatient care, but our team pulled it together in a matter of days.”

The national declaration of a medical emergency permitted hospitals to provide patient care outside of the hospital itself.

Unity Medical Center is a 49-bed acute care hospital located at 481 Interstate Drive in Manchester that operates two rural health clinics employing over 40 medical providers. If you are having difficulty breathing or other respiratory distress or have a fever over 100.1, call your primary care provider. Unity Medical Center can be reached by phone at 931-728-6354.

Coffee County School Sytem school nutrition team has worked feverishly to ensure children have access to nutritious meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving thousands of meals in the past three weeks. Beginning this week, operational changes to the drive thru program will be as follows:

*Open: Mondays Only – 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
*Location: Coffee County Raider Academy, 865 McMinnville Highway, Manchester, TN
*Children will receive five days worth of meals during the distribution.

The drive thru location at Coffee County Raider Academy will be the only site open (Mondays only) in Coffee County Schools moving forward during the extended closure.

During the drive thru distribution, children will also have the opportunity to receive weekend backpack food. Our Student Support Services Department understands the challenges and hardships that families potentially are facing during these times of uncertainty. We encourage you to reach out to them by filling out this form if your family is in need, click here. 

Walmart will allow fewer customers in the store at one time.

The nation’s largest retailer, which operates stores in Manchester, Tullahoma, Winchester, McMinnville, Shelbyville and other areas surrounding Coffee County, said it will now allow no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly about 20% of the average store’s capacity.

To oversee the restriction, workers will mark a queue at a single-entry door, and direct arriving customers there, where they’ll be admitted one by one. Walmart joins Target and others in trying to limit the number of customers in the store to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

There are now 3,067 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee as of 2 p.m. Friday, April 3 – this according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

This includes three confirmed cases in Coffee County.

There are 37 reported deaths and 293 hospitalizations, along with 248 recovered. 

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued an executive order on Thursday, April 2, calling on all Tennesseans to stay at home unless carrying out essential duties through at least April 14. 

Unity Medical Center announced that it is preparing additional space off-site for patient care. The off-site unit is located across the street from the hospital campus in the Pavilion at 482 Interstate Drive.

Unity explained that it wanted to be as prepared as possible for an influx of patients presenting with SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus responsible for the disease COVID-19. Tennessee has over 3,000 documented cases but most experts believe that this number will rise dramatically as the ability to test becomes more available.

The plan for the off-site unit is to care for less acute, non-COVID-19 patients still needing inpatient care. Treating these patients off-site leaves more room at the hospital itself for sicker or contagious patients.

“We hope that we will never be forced to use the off-site unit for patient care because that would mean that we are being overrun with seriously ill patients,” stated Ashoke “Bappa” Mukherji, Chairman of the Board of Unity. “However, if there is a surge of COVID-19 patients and larger hospitals cannot continue to take our transfers, we need to be as ready as possible.”

Unity would utilize physicians, nurses and staff from their two outpatient clinics to staff the off-site unit.

“If we are faced with a situation where patient needs exceed the hospital’s capacity, we would be shutting down the clinics anyway to help prevent further spread of the virus,” stated Martha McCormick, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital. “It may be a little different for our clinic staff to provide inpatient care, but they are completely capable and up to the task.” She continued, “The idea is not to place patients in an area where they would receive substandard care, it is to continue to treat patients and minimize the risk they would be infected when receiving the care they require during a pandemic.”

Kenneth Ware, Unity’s Chief Nursing Officer, reported that the off-site unit would ready for operation in a matter of days and could house as many as 12-14 patients. He stated, “I’m incredibly proud of our staff that continues to show up to work on the front lines every day and is willing to step up to whatever challenges are thrown at them. Like most hospitals, we have never had to open off-site inpatient care, but our team pulled it together in a matter of days.” The national declaration of a medical emergency permitted hospitals to provide patient care outside of the hospital itself.

Unity Medical Center is a 49-bed acute care hospital located at 481 Interstate Drive in Manchester that operates two rural health clinics employing over 40 medical providers. If you are having difficulty breathing or other respiratory distress or have a fever over 100.1, call your primary care provider. Unity Medical Center can be reached by phone at 931-728-6354.

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease continues to impact communities across the country, Tennessee banks are working around the clock to assist borrowers, including through the new Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

This evening, the U.S. Treasury Department and Small Business Administration issued further guidance for the CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which will provide up to $350 billion in fully forgivable loans to help small businesses maintain payrolls during the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the revised guidance for the program that is set to launch Friday, April 3, many banks still await final approval to make these loans. There will be banks that are ready to make these loans right away once they can get the final implementation rules from SBA and Treasury. Tennessee bankers ask for patience from the public as the program begins.

“Keep in mind that PPP loans aren’t the only way Tennessee’s banks are helping their customers,” explained Colin Barrett, president and CEO, Tennessee Bankers Association (TBA). “We urge Tennesseans to have patience as your banks continue to work to understand all of the options available to best fit your needs. Banks worked one-on-one with their customers to find solutions before PPP became available, and they will continue to do so after the program is complete.”

Tennessee banks entered this pandemic from a position of strength, thanks to record capital and liquidity levels as well as prudent planning and risk management.

Our banks look forward to helping small businesses across Tennessee get back to work and seeing our economy resume its strength and our lives return to normalcy.