This afternoon (6.8.20) the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) recommended the County and all municipalities remain in Phase II of reopening another week, until June 15th.
The recommendation comes after careful analysis of data since the move to Phase II of the Back-to-Business Format on May 19th. We have seen an increase in daily case numbers, particularly after the Memorial Day weekend, according to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. For that reason, the Mayor and the SCHD have decided to maintain the current COVID-19 response level at this time.
Lakeland City Manager Shane Horn
said he expects the IH Clubhouse in Lakeland will likely be opened next week, but cautioned that City playgrounds may continue to be shut down. He said the issue is how to keep the playgrounds sanitized.
According to the SCHD, unless there are extraordinary changes in the metrics between now and June 15th, the County will be able advance to Phase III on that date. But in the meantime, the Health Department will continue to monitor new cases, positivity rate, reproduction rate, testing capacity, hospital capacity, and public health capacity.
The Health Department today issued a 21-page Public Health Directive No. 5 on the COVID-19 response:
https://shelbytnhealth.com/DocumentCenter/View/1748/Health-Directive-No-5?bidId=
Throughout the shutdown, the SCHD has been advising businesses and other organizations about their plans for reopening. Web page: www.shelbytnhealth.com/healthdirectives. Businesses, academic institutions, community groups, and other organizations may submit proposals for reopening plans to covid@shelbycountytn.gov.
Alisa Haushalter, SCHD director, said to continue to move forward with reopening, we must all do our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, workplaces and homes. “We ask each of you to continue:
- Practicing social distancing – keeping at least six feet away from others
- Wearing a mask or facial covering while in public, at work, or around persons from outside of your household
- Washing your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds
- Getting tested – we have significant testing capacity in Shelby County, but it is being under utilized
- Isolating and quarantining – isolating when positive for COVID-19 and quarantining after exposure to COVID-19
- Protecting our most vulnerable populations:
- Nursing/care home residents
- Seniors
- Individuals who live in congregate settings such as jails or prisons
- Individuals with chronic health conditions
The SCHD hotline number is 833-943-1658.
