Eight people tested for COVID-19 have been cleared and tested negative for the novel coronavirus, according to a Monday afternoon news release from Jackson (Tenn.) Mayor Scott Conger. Three tests are pending, but as of 4 p.m. Monday, there were no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Jackson.
“We are continuing to monitor this situation very closely,” Conger said in the release. “I want to remind everyone that we expect the number of infections to rise significantly as widespread testing begins very soon. This should not be a cause for panic, but more of a realistic picture of where we are with spread of the virus. Remember, prevention is key to minimizing the effects of the virus, particularly on those most vulnerable in our community. Let this be a time for us to show greater concern, care, and patience with our neighbors.”
Conger announced a precautionary state of emergency Monday morning. He said it will give the city access to federal funds that will allow the city to make sure they are protecting customers and its citizens, to prevent the act of price gouging and to keep the government going during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last weekend, the CDC recommended that all events in the next eight weeks with 50 or more people in anticipated attendance either be postponed or canceled. Conger said he is urging event organizers locally to follow that guidance.
“All City of Jackson organized events for the next 30 days have been postponed,” Conger said. “All board, commission, task force, and other larger group meetings have been canceled or moved to conference calls/video calls, with the exception of City Council.”
An hour before Conger released his statement, the White House advised all Americans to avoid groups of 10 or more and urged older people to stay at home in new guidelines designed to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Several West Tennessee school systems announced they would be closed for at least the rest of March after Gov. Bill Lee urged for a statewide school closure because of COVID-19 concerns.
Jackson-Madison County Schools System announced that they will “remain closed after spring break through Tuesday, March 31st. School-level teachers and staff will remain off during this period as well. More information is forthcoming,” said Rachel Scott, JMCSS Leader of Professional Development and Media Relations, in a statement.
In response to the closing of Jackson-Madison County Schools System, Conger said: “We are working closely with local leaders to identify ways to help families affected by these closures, particularly as it relates to food access.”
Conger said in the release that this morning, he met “with leadership from Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department, West Tennessee Health Care, Jackson Energy Authority, the Jackson Chamber, and United Way of West TN to discuss our plans moving forward to ensure we’re all working together and all lines of communication are open. I will continue to meet with this group, along with Mayor Harris, JMCSS Superintendent Ray Washington, and the Madison County Emergency Management agency daily, to include Saturdays and Sundays, until we have determined no further need of these meetings.”
Conger said he has also “established an internal COVID-19 response team that will meet daily, to include Saturdays and Sundays, to monitor the City’s operations and resources with the goal of remaining as highfunctioning and responsive to our citizens’ needs as possible.”
“We are working to identify ways we can further minimize risks while still supporting our most essential operations to protect public welfare, public safety, and our employees,” Conger said. “This may include further postponements, cancellations, facility closures, and greater use of technological resources.”
For the Jackson-Madison County Health Department, please call: 731-423-3020.
For information on non-emergency resources through United Way of West TN, please call: 2-1-1
To report price gouging contact the State of Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs at www.tn.gov/consumer or call 615-741-4737.