CoronaVirus

President Trump and Coronavirus Task Force Update 4/6/2020

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee behind podium with state flagTN Governor Bill Lee Update 4/6/2020
https://www.facebook.com/GovBillLee/videos/508302863175016/

Sumner County COVID-19 Count 4/7/2020

Tennessee ICU beds available

Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. (Newschannel 5 Investigates)

ICU Beds Available

Tennessean 4/6/2020 
TN Dept of Human Services Hotline and Cash Assistance

The Tennessee Department of Human Services launched a special hotline this month to help families with children to check on their application for emergency cash assistance.

Applicants can call 833-496-0661 to learn the status of their application, including approval or denial and how much money the approved family can expect to receive.

Applications for emergency cash assistance will be accepted through May 29, 2020.

All TDHS offices are operating on an appointment basis, so the department is asking applicants to complete the application process online here. 

Applicants will be emailed a response and if approved they should receive an EBT card in the mail within 10 to 15 days.

The emergency cash assistance program is funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and provides two monthly cash payments to approved families depending on their size:

  • $500 for a household of 1 to 2 people
  • $750 for a household of 3 to 4 people.
  • $1000 for a household with 5 or more people

This assistance is available in addition to any unemployment benefits individuals in the family may be receiving.

To be eligible, families must have been employed as of March 11, 2020 but have since then lost employment or at least 50% of their earned income due to the COVID-19 emergency, include a child under the age of 18 or a pregnant woman, have a valid Social Security Number, must not have resources exceeding $2000, and the gross and/or unearned monthly income may not exceed 85% of the State’s Median Income that’s currently:

  • Gross Monthly Income of $2,696 for a household of one.
  • Gross Monthly Income of $3,526 for a household of two.
  • Gross Monthly Income of $4,356 for a household of three.
  • Gross Monthly Income of $5,185 for a household of four.

Coronavirus Information Line

Tennessee Corona Virus Public Information Line 1-877-857-2945
TN Department of Health Main Line 615-741-7247 (for PUI assessment and Healthcare Provider questions)
Public Information Number 877-857-2945 available 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. CST daily
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov
TDH: https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html

How do I know if I was exposed? 

You generally need to be in close contact with a sick person to get infected. Close contact includes:
• Living in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19
• Caring for a sick person with COVID-19
• Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 10 minutes or longer
• Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.) 

Communicate with Public Health

• You may receive a call from public health if you have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19. They will explain quarantine guidance and answer any questions you have.
• If you have any additional questions, contact your local health department. Quarantine Yourself
• You should stay home for 14 days after your last contact with the person with COVID-19. If your contact is a household member, you may need to stay home for longer.
• Do not go to work or school, and avoid public places for 14 days.
• If possible, get others such as friends or family, to drop off food or other necessities. Monitor Your Health
• Watch for fever, cough and shortness of breath during the 14 days after the last day you were in close contact with the person with COVID-19.
• If you develop these symptoms within 14 days of last contact with a person with COVID-19, you may have COVID-19.
• If your symptoms are mild, stay home and monitor your health. If you need medical assessment, call the health clinic or hospital before you arrive and tell the provider that you are a contact to a person who was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Mayor’s Update

Dear All,

First I want to say Thank You to the amazing residents of Gallatin. Most of you are following expert guidance and doing as you should. Thank you to those who are working to serve the public, at our city government and in the private sector - especially those in healthcare, public safety and customer service. You all are my heroes. And thank you to our private sector businesses who are working hard to keep their employees safe and protect the public they are serving.

My advice is to behave as if everyone around you may be contagious to you and that you are contagious to those you encounter. You know the guidelines. Please follow them. Do isolate yourself as much as you possibly can.

Buy only enough to meet your immediate needs. There is NO supply chain shortage, but hoarding is leading to available stock issues.

Be aware that the number of positive cases will increase as more people are tested. This is not cause for alarm. The number will peak and then decline. We are all working to "flatten the curve" to keep our healthcare functioning well and to protect those who are at high-risk should they contract the virus.

We are a strong community and we love and care for each other. Please make sure that your neighbors don’t have any needs that they can’t safely meet without your help.

The City is continuing to operate but we are asking all residents to conduct business via phone or email. I am unable to keep up with messages and emails right now but the city staff is trying to help everyone who has a question or need. Our police and fire departments are also trying to limit any direct contact. Please work with them should you need their services.

If you’re a believer, please pray for the health and safety of everyone, and that we can get through this as rapidly as possible.

We WILL get through this and we will be even better on the other side.

Love and prayers for each of you. Thank you for your continued patience for and kindness to each other. We can still be together, even while we are apart.

God bless each of you.

-Paige