As of Thursday, Davidson and Williamson counties continued to tally the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, according to the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH)’s website.
TDH’s website reported that Davidson had 75 confirmed cases and Williamson had 30.
Shelby County, lagging far behind in third place, had four confirmed cases.
Sumner County, meanwhile, had three confirmed coronavirus cases.
Other counties, such as Dyer, Hamilton, and Cheatham, had one confirmed case each, the TDH website reported.
The TDH website reported a sum of 154 confirmed coronavirus cases throughout the state as of Thursday night.
On Thursday Nashville Democratic Mayor John Cooper said he signed Executive Order No. 6, which declared a state of emergency throughout Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County.
“It will help Metro government and our partner in health care providers with a more rapid resources and decision-making capability,” Cooper said at a press conference Thursday.
“The Emergency Operations Center has been activated and staffed around the clock since 2 a.m. on March 3 in response to the tornados that hit this city. EOC staff are finalizing preparations to add Metro’s COVID-19 response activation to this mission, which will support clinics and hospitals already in place to help Nashvillians throughout Davidson County.”
Cooper also announced that members of the Nashville-based Frist Foundation will donate $1 million to a fund that city officials set up to help people who have fallen ill to the coronavirus. The fund will also help people who lost their jobs or number of working hours because of the coronavirus emergency.
Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation CEO Butch Spyridon said the coronavirus emergency will hit the city’s hospitality industry the hardest.
As The Tennessee Star reported Thursday, Cooper said small businesses facing hardships may also take advantage of the fund.
“The decision to declare a public health emergency and to place restrictions on our hospitality providers is serious. It has an effect that the Metro Government, along with our community partners, is taking steps to address,” Cooper said.
“But these are strategic, short-term solutions that will make a tremendous long-term difference in flattening the curve and stopping the spread of coronavirus in our community.”
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
[…] Tennessee Star reported Thursday, Cooper said he signed Executive Order No. 6, which declared a state of emergency throughout […]
[…] The Tennessee Star reported Thursday, Cooper said he signed Executive Order No. 6, which declared a state of emergency throughout […]