Daily Metro COVID-19 Press Update for 03/25/20

03/25/20

DAILY METRO COVID19 PRESS UPDATE FOR 03/25/20

Contact Name: Chris Song

Contact: chris.song@nashville.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: March 25, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mayor John Cooper’s office issued the following announcements on Metro’s citywide coronavirus (COVID-19) monitoring and response efforts in coordination with area hospitals, healthcare providers, and other community partners:

COVID-19 RESPONSE

Metro Small Business Task Force

Vice Mayor Jim Shulman, in partnership with Mayor John Cooper and the Metro Council, has formed a Small Business Task Force to address the issues facing small businesses in Metro Nashville/Davidson County that have been affected by COVID-19 and the March 3rd tornadoes.

“While we take necessary steps to protect our population, the Metro Council, Mayor Cooper and I agree that we must quickly determine what we can do–short term and long term–to help small businesses,” Vice Mayor Jim Shulman stated. “The Task Force is expected to focus on establishing available federal, state, and privately-sourced small business assistance and to determine how best to obtain and distribute such assistance locally.”

The Task Force is chaired by Metro Councilmember At-Large Steve Glover and Community Leader Cristina Allen. The Task Force’s twenty-four (24) members represent the diversity of Nashville’s business environment, including hospitality, retail, services, construction, manufacturing, creative/music, healthcare, real estate, and finance. The Task Force will work to aid and assist small businesses with their financial stability. The plan will be finalized in mid-April. Visit the Small Business Task Force’s website for more information.

Metro Small Business Task Force:

David Andrews, Bakery

Andy Bhakta, Hotel

Chris Carter, Retail

Sam Davidson, Retail

Kamel Daouk, Real Estate

Bridgette Edwards, Fitness

Nancy Edwards, Manufacturing

David Fox, Financial

Santos Gonzalez, Broadcast and Real Estate

Don Hardin, Construction

Barrett Hobbs, Hospitality

Michael Johnson, Barber

Katie Lentile, Mayor’s Representative

Kathy Leslie, Restaurant

Andy Mumma, Restaurant

Elizabeth Murphy, Local Farmers

Josh Mundy, Dry Cleaners

Ashley Northington, Public Relations

John Ozier, Music

Mayur Patel, Grocery

Adam Saba, Grocery

Julia Sullivan, Restaurant

Deborah Varallo, Marketing/PR

Alex Vaughan, Retail

Sheri Weiner, Healthcare

Metro Launches Food Security Working Group

Mayor John Cooper’s office announced the creation of a Food Security working group. Nancy Keil, President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, will chair the working group, which includes representatives from Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), the Red Cross, Kroger, Amazon, Lyft and restaurant industry leaders, such as Sean Brock.

“The vital work of Second Harvest and its hundreds of community partners is more important now than it has ever been,” said Mayor John Cooper. “We need to take care of families in need, ensure that children who are out of school have access to healthy and nutritious meals, and find creative ways to put restaurant and hospitality workers back to work. Nashville is fortunate to be able to call on such a distinguished group during this challenging time.”

Food Security Working Group Members:

David Alperson, Director of Logistics, Amazon

Sean Brock, Author, Chef and Owner of Audrey/Joyland

Melissa Eads, Corporate Affairs Manager, Kroger

Brenda Haywood, Deputy Mayor, Metro Nashville

Nancy Keil, President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

Alison McArthur, Director of Community Achieves, MNPS

Sam Nadler, Regional Director, Lyft

Joel Sullivan, President, American Red Cross

“I want to thank Mayor Cooper for convening this group and thank our community and corporate partners for coming together to address this urgent need,” said Nancy Keil of Second Harvest. “It’s going to take the collective work of this team and others to ensure our most vulnerable neighbors have access to food.”

“Every day at MNPS we’re committed to doing our part to meet the nutritional needs of students and families through our school nutrition and Community Achieves programs,” said Dr. Adrienne Battle, Director of Schools. “The needs of the community and our MNPS families have never been greater than they are today, and we greatly appreciate the coordinated effort being put in place by Mayor Cooper to ensure that nobody goes without food during this crisis.”

Food Security working group meetings begin later this week. Details on Nashville’s response to Covid-19 can be found at https://covid19.nashville.gov/. Details on MNPS’s response to Covid-19 can be found at https://www.mnps.org/covid19.

METRO PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Metro Public Health Department officials announced today a total number of 257 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nashville/Davidson County, an increase of four (4) cases in the past 24 hours. Of the confirmed cases, one (1) patient has died from complications due to the coronavirus. Three (3) others remain hospitalized. Thirty-four (34) people have recovered from the virus. The remaining 219 cases are self-isolating at home and have mild and manageable symptoms.

Total number of Cases: 257

Number of Cases confirmed today: 4

Cases by sex

Male: 127

Female: 126

Unknown: 4

Total Cases by age

Unknown 3 0-4 1 5-17 3 18-49 196 50-64 29 65+ 25 Total 257 Recovered 34 Deaths 1 Total active cases 222

Health officials remind everyone to take steps to stop the spread of germs like COVID-19. These include:

Practice social distancing as defined by the CDC. Do not gather in groups larger than 10.

Stay at home, unless leaving your home is absolutely necessary because you have medical needs or are an essential workers.

Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

Don’t touch the T-zone of your face: your eyes, nose or mouth.

Stay away from others in your home if you are sick.

PARKS & RECREATION

While it is important for residents to have safe and viable recreational options, it also is a priority of Parks & Recreation to help flatten the curve of the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, too many people are gathering in large groups at certain recreational facilities in the city.

Out of an abundance of caution and safety and with the guidance from the Metro Health Department, as of today (3/25), we are closing all playgrounds, dog parks, basketball courts, tennis courts, picnic shelters, and skate parks. These facilities will be closed to the public until further notice. Metro Parks and the Health Department discourages any type of activity that would negatively impact social distancing protocol.

Parks, greenways, trails and golf courses will remain open, however social distancing is expected and required. Please note: golf club houses are closed, which means concessions, restrooms and cart rentals are not available.

UTILITIES

Metro Water Services

Metro Water Services wants to assure customers that we remain fully operational and the vital water services you depend on are safe and available.

Metro Water Services will not assess late fees or disconnect water services to any of our customers through the end of April.

Customers facing financial hardship during these trying times will be allowed to defer payment for a two-month period by calling 615-862-4600. Account balances that are deferred will be evenly spread out over a 12-month period.

The Customers Services Center lobby, 1700 2nd Ave N, is closed. Customer Service representatives can be reached by calling 615-862-4600 or emailing MWS.online@nashville.gov. All payment channels, except for the over-the-counter transactions, are available, including the outdoor kiosk.

MWS Development Services, 800 2nd Ave. S, will operate by appointment only from 8 am – 12 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Review fee appointments should be scheduled by contacting your plan review engineer or emailing mws.eplansrev@nashville.gov

For convenience and safety, payments can be made by check or credit card. To pay by check or credit card, please call (615) 862-4084 for permits related payments; for design fees, contact your MWS plan review engineer. Please make sure paperwork is complete (including applicable approvals) prior to scheduling an appointment.

To schedule an appointment to pay capacity fees and any other development related fees please email MWS.DS@nashville.gov.

When emailing to schedule a payment appointment, please place PAYMENT in the subject line and include the permit number.

Email confirmation will be sent upon approval of emailed meter submissions.

Anyone needing help with any other topics will be directed to send questions to MWS.DS@nashville.gov

COURTS & OFFICES

Traffic Violation Bureau

Pursuant to Supreme Court Order ADM2020-00428, all Traffic and Environmental Court cases scheduled for court appearance through April 10, 2020 are being continued.

The Traffic Violation Bureau will remain open on a limited basis. We will be here to serve and our employees will be on-site; however, person-to-person interaction will be limited. When our office is closed, please send an email to our customer support by clicking the “contact us” tab at the bottom left tab on the screen, and we will return your email promptly.

The safety and health of the public and our employees is of the utmost importance during this time. See specifics below.

There will be no reporting to the Department of Safety and all future compliance dates have been suspended until further notice.

A drop box will be available outside of the office for payments and/or request of court dates. Payments may be made online at our website http://paytraffic.nashville.gov .

. Additionally, any new updates will be posted on our website so please check back frequently if this information pertains to you. The website address is http://circuitclerk.nashville.gov/traffic/ .

. We received notice that the Davidson County Sheriffs Office is immediately suspending the service of all civil process documents. For exceptions and more information, please contact the Sheriffs Department.

U.S. Census Bureau

Due to COVID-19, the Census is temporarily suspending field operations. Please do your part by having your family fill out the census by phone or online.

Call the numbers below or visit http://my2020census.gov.

English: 844-330-2020

Español: 844-468-2020

SCHOOLS & EDUCATION

Metro Nashville Public Schools

Metro Nashville Public Schools closed schools are closed and will remain closed at least through Friday, April 24.

MNPS is working with community partners to distribute food boxes to families in need. To learn where to pick up a meal each day, click here.

MNPS has compiled a resource guide consisting of digital tools for students and families while schools are out and many workplaces are closed due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The resources and links in the guide, available at https://www.mnps.org/digitaltools, are optional. They do not affect student grades, advancement to the next grade level or graduation requirements.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Unemployment Information

State Information:

For Employers: https://www.tn.gov/workforce/covid-19/employers.html

For Workers: https://www.tn.gov/workforce/covid-19/employees.html

Federal Information: Local Preparedness & Response Tips

SBA Loans: Click here to apply

Small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have suffered economic injury as a result of COVID-19 can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million per applicant to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have otherwise been met. The Economic Injury Disaster Loans are administered and processed through the SBA. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Interest rates for the loans are 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for nonprofit organizations. The loans can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable or other bills that can’t be paid due to the disaster’s impact.

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