In a public health crisis, we should name names
The first death from COVID-19 was reported in Shelby County March 28. For a while, we didn’t know that, because the governor wasn’t releasing deaths with county names.
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The first death from COVID-19 was reported in Shelby County March 28. For a while, we didn’t know that, because the governor wasn’t releasing deaths with county names.
As COVID-19 cases hit nearly 400 in Shelby County and reached into 77 of 95 counties, Gov. Bill Lee ordered all nonessential businesses to close Monday, March 30, and introduced a statewide “safer at home” measure.
U.S. Reps. David Kustoff and Steve Cohen join Tennessee Congressional delegation in calling for more federal assistance to battle COVID-19.
In an online press conference Monday, Cohen says matching state standards for gatherings and travel already adopted in Shelby County could ease the strain on Memphis hospitals from the surrounding region once the pandemic reaches its peak here.
Gov. Bill Lee's second year in office morphs into crisis mode, forcing him to make decisions on the fly, many of which he is reversing in a matter of days to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lee commented as he moved the state's daily briefing on the pandemic to Memphis and met with local leaders. State officials announced the death toll from the virus in the state has now risen to six.
The number of 2,218 tested in Shelby County comes with no details unlike state numbers that reveal testing by types of labs and age ranges. And because it's a total over a period of time in which the response and other measure to the virus have changed, it is still difficult to tell what the number means.
Tennessee could sidestep a days-long lag time for COVID-19 through new testing equipment expected to be introduced during the coming week, enabling results to be shown in an hour or less.
Gov. Bill Lee is seeking help from Vanderbilt University Medical Center on a “unique” model to project the COVID-19 spread in Tennessee that will enable the state to determine its effect on hospital capacity and personal protective equipment as well as the next hot spots.
The problem is a state requirement that labs and other health care providers must report total testing and positive results to the state but only positive results to county health officials. The Daily Memphian found Baptist Memorial Health Care appears to be doing most of the testing in Shelby County. But some health providers refused to release numbers.
As COVID-19 cases escalate, Gov. Bill Lee reminded Tennesseans Wednesday he is negotiating with the federal government for Medicaid funding to cover uninsured residents who contract the virus.
As COVID-19 cases pass the 660 mark, Gov. Bill Lee is asking every school system in the state to stay closed until April 24, three weeks longer than expected, while hoping students can get some form of instruction by watching lessons on PBS.
In Memphis, hospitals are searching for new vendors, buying outside their purchasing organization lists.
Lee said he hopes to free up protective devices and ventilators for the response to the coronavirus. In addition, he said Tennessee colleges of applied technology are using 3-D equipment to print face shields.
Gov. Bill Lee signed an executive order Sunday, March 22, calling for businesses across the state to use "alternative business models" beginning Monday. Like local orders already in place, it bans dine-in services at restaurants statewide.
Gov. Bill Lee worked with the state attorney general and comptroller on an executive order to put electronic government meetings rules in place after legislation failed Thursday in the final hours of the General Assembly session
The state reports the total number of confirmed cases in Tennessee is 73, and a third Shelby County case has also been reported. That individual is isolated at home and did not contract it in Shelby County.
With COVID-19 spreading statewide, the governor signed an executive order Thursday to expand the state’s health care capacity and give people more time to renew driver’s licenses and car tags. It even allows the Parole Board to hold closed meetings.
Gov. Bill Lee issued a disaster declaration Wednesday, enabling small businesses to seek federal loans as coronavirus cases are expected to rise amid increased testing.
Gov. Bill Lee introduced a “no-growth” budget for the next fiscal year, reducing a 3.1% revenue growth projection to zero and eliminating dozens of spending proposals while spending hundreds of millions to respond to the COVID-19 emergency.
COVID-19, or coronavirus, testing has been slow and frustrating. Here's what you need to know about how it works.
Gov. Bill Lee outlined an assistance plan Tuesday to help people survive the crisis financially and is expected to declare a small business emergency so companies can obtain federal loans to stay afloat.
House and Senate leaders reached an agreement Monday for the Legislature’s schedule, likely entailing an early, temporary adjournment for 60 days out of concern for COVID-19, according to sources.
Reacting to the national coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Bill Lee will present an “adjusted” budget by Wednesday containing funds to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and mid-state tornado victims as lawmakers hoped to take a recess of at least two months.