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There have been several new developments regarding the State’s and Metro’s respective responses to COVID-19 since last night’s e-newsletter, so I wanted to provide you with the latest information:

Paid for by Friends of John Ray Clemmons, Sydney U. Rogers. Treasurer

 STATE

 

March 16, 2020

Governor Bill Lee urged schools to close ([link removed]) through the end of March.

 

March 16, 2020

The Tennessee General Assembly announced that it will be working in a bipartisan manner to pass an expedited budget ([link removed]) and several “essential bills” this week before adjourning the 111th Session at the end of the week until further notice. We are expected to return in late Spring or early Summer to take up outstanding legislative matters.

 

In addition to government operations related sunset bills, the following is a tentative list of legislation that may be taken up this week.  HB 2821; HB 2820; HB 2819; HB 2822; HB2170; HB 2138; HB 2154; HB 1175; HB 2505; HB 2565; HB 2362; HB 2364; HB 2363; HB 2255; HB 2378; HB 1538; HB 2363; HB 2472; HB2565; HB 2129; HB 2640; SJR 0836.

 

March 16, 2020

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted School Nutrition Program waivers ([link removed]) to the TN Department of Education (TDOE) to provide School Food Authorities (SFAs) flexibility to feed children utilizing non-congregate feeding sites. The state’s waiver approval permits SFAs to continue to use school sites to prepare food even during unexpected closures. The waiver also permits schools to use innovative methods to ensure children receive food, including grab-n-go, bus stop delivery, etc., to get food to kids without having kids come and sit in the cafeteria. In both cases, districts may serve meals to children under the age of 18, regardless of enrollment. The child must be present to receive the meal.

 

Please note that both of these waivers only apply to area-eligible zones (over 50% free and reduced-price meals). To address this, the TDOE has also prepared an application to submit to USDA to waive the requirements to only serve meals in area-eligible zones. At this time, the TDOE has been notified that this waiver approval would be contingent on a presidential declaration of a natural disaster. Because it is a state of National Emergency, some districts currently will not qualify for the distribution of food to all students. The TDOE is continuing to partner with these districts to identify alternative options to ensure nutrition supports are provided to students.

 

Tennessee Department of Education’s coronavirus webpage ([link removed])

 

School Nutrition COVID-19 Guidance ([link removed])

 

School Nutrition FAQs ([link removed])

METRO

 

March 15, 2020

Metro Public Health Board declared a “Public Health Emergency ([link removed])”

 

March 16, 2020

Dr. Alex Jahangir, the director of Metro’s COVID-19 Task Force, announced the creation of a “COVID-19 Assessment Hotline” and that multiple “Assessment Centers” would be set up in various locations county-wide this week.  These centers will be made possible thanks to the coordination of Vanderbilt Health, Healthcare Corporation of America, Ascension St. Thomas, Meharry Medical College, Nashville General Hospital, and others.

 

March 16, 2020

MNPS announced that all schools are closed ([link removed]) through April 3, 2020.

GENERAL

 

Guidance for High-Risk Individuals ([link removed]) from the CDC

 

The Tennessee Department of Health’s Coronavirus Public Information Line: 877-857-2945

 

Why outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially, and how to ‘flatten the curve’ – Washington Post ([link removed])

 

Coronavirus: What is ‘flattening the curve,’ and will it work? - LiveScience ([link removed])





2501 Oakland Avenue | Nashville, TN 37212 US

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