Tag Archives: Covid

Bonuses for being vaccinated and weekly testing for the unvaccinated are on the table for Livingston city employees. Mayor Curtis Hayes said with roughly 43 percent of his employees vaccinated, it is straining the police department, airport and public works. Hayes said he checked with his department heads about the effectiveness of this potential order. “It was my idea and ... Read More »

Jackson County will potentially use American Rescue Plan funding to purchase property that would mitigate courthouse traffic. County Commissioners approved a resolution Monday night allowing Mayor Randy Heady to start the process of purchasing a long-vacant building near the courthouse. Heady said that the ARP funding would be used for both purchase of the property and its renovation. “And this ... Read More »

COVID cases at Cookeville Regional have decreased by 50 percent over the last two and a half weeks. As of Tuesday, there are a total of 52 COVID hospitalizations with 7 patients in the ICU. That’s down from a high of 117 in early September. 38 of the 52 hospitalized patients are unvaccinated and 6 patients have an unknown vaccination ... Read More »

18 months into the COVID pandemic and professionals are seeing a major impact on the mental health of adolescents. The CDC recently reported a 24 percent increase in emergency room visits for kids ages 5 to 11 related to mental health emergencies. In kids aged 12-17, there was a 31 percent increase due to depression or anxiety. Local pediatric occupational ... Read More »

Van Buren County High School looks to begin in-house COVID testing. Director of Schools Cheryl Cole said the district received some $200,000 through a CDC grant making the operation possible. “They are not rapid test, but they only take about a day, and it’s through the health department,” Cole said. “It will pay for the nurses salary for this year. ... Read More »

Cookeville Regional changed its visitation policy for some COVID patients Wednesday. The hospital will now allow one visitor a day for two hours but only for patients that have been housed for at least five days. All patients in ICU will be allowed one visitor even if inpatient is less than 5 days. Visitation for patients with the last name ... Read More »

The Jackson County School System is in need of bus drivers to get through the school year. Director of Schools Kristy Brown said the system needs full-time, part-time and substitute bus drivers right now. Brown said they have lost multiple full-time drivers to retirement. “We do have some regular teachers at schools who have their bus driver licenses,” Brown said. ... Read More »

Some Cookeville residents plan to gather on Thursday to support the men and women inside CRMC fighting against COVID. Hearts for Healthcare Heroes Organizer Lendzi Chandley said the idea came after a friend who works in the hospital felt beaten down after last week’s protest. Chandley said rallying for the people who want to save lives in the community is ... Read More »

The Van Buren County Commission will consider infrastructure improvements through COVID funding on Tuesday. Mayor Greg Wilson said storm water and HVAC upgrades have been discussed. Wilson said the county wants to mitigate storm water at the old county landfill. Also looking at drainage at other sites. “The Fair Association Building, our Agricultural Education Center, it’s a new building and ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland Health Officials are recommending neutralizing monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID. Upper Cumberland Regional Medical Director Dr. Don Grisham said Cookeville Regional Medical Center is leading the way in Tennessee with this treatment. Grisham said it is an infusion that typically only takes two hours. “These drugs rapidly decrease the number of COVID viral particles in a person,” Grisham ... Read More »