Cumberland County Schools COVID-19 data as of Friday, December 11, 2020:
- 39 positive active student cases
- 24 positive active staff cases
- 402 total students quarantined due to being determined to have had close contact with another individual who tested positive.
- 38 total staff members quarantined due to being determined to have had close contact with another individual who tested positive.
COVID-19 Update (difference from previous day)
I have been saying that we are still missing a lot of results for quite some time. Over the weekend we seem to have gotten many of them. On Saturday and Sunday, we had a combined 898 results with 159 new cases. Saturday’s count came with an inordinate number of positive compared to negative results. On Saturday, the Tennessee Department of Health stated, “As we work to streamline data processing, today’s counts do not include all negative test results, which is skewing the positivity rate. We’re working to resolve this issue and today’s data should be interpreted with that in mind.”
Again today, we had a large number of results with 555 total and 104 positives. In three days, we have had 1,453 results reported with 263 of those being positive. At the same time, we have only had 49 inactive/recovered added to the list. I do not know how long ago those tests were administered or why we are getting such a large number of results, but we are definitely seeing a lot more positives.
According to the Governor’s Office, most of the new cases are coming from small group gatherings like weddings, showers, family events, etc. In order to reduce the spread, everyone needs to follow the basic rules/guidelines.
- If you feel sick, get tested.
- STAY HOME after being tested until you get your result. If the result is positive you should begin isolation and wait for a call from the Tennessee Department of Health in order to receive additional instructions. There is a quarantine (for those exposed) and isolation (for those with COVID-19) calculator here: https://covid19.tn.gov/prevention/quarantine-isolation-calculator/. It is important the everyone follow those recommendations.
- Remember to wear a mask when appropriate
- Practice social distance
- Wash your hands frequently
- Follow the guidelines provided by Governor Lee and the CDC.
- Be smart and avoid places you feel are unsafe.
The following are the numbers from the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) for Cumberland County as of 2:00 PM today. The change from the prior day, not my prior newsletter, is in parenthesis.
545 active cases (+94)
2,750 inactive/recovered (+5)
44 deaths officially reported (+0)
3,339 positive cases (+104)
94 cumulative hospitalizations (+0)
36,905 negative tests (+438)
17.97% positivity rate – 7-day average
82.36% Inactive/Recovered
8.30% cumulative positivity rate (positive cases / positive cases + negative tests)
5.52% of residents have tested positive
0.90% of residents have active cases
These numbers are intended to be a brief summary of the information provided by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDOH). More detailed information can be found at the online dashboard: https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html
Click here for the TDOH Quarantine & Isolation Calculator:
https://covid19.tn.gov/prevention/quarantine-isolation-calculator/
A new dashboard has been released for each county. You can now view the Cumberland County COVID-19 dashboard here:
https://covid19.tn.gov/data/dashboards/?County=Cumberland
The dashboard seems to be the last data that is updated so it can lag for several hours behind the 2:00 PM daily data release.
School level COVID-19 data is now available online. Click this link to see the information available for Cumberland County:
https://districtinformation.tnedu.gov/covid-information/search/-1/180
Vaccine Update
I have received several questions about the state’s vaccine plan. They have now published a FAQ that can be found here:
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/COVID-19_Vaccine_FAQ.pdf
One of the most frequent questions that the state hears from Tennesseans is when the general public can expect to be able to receive the vaccine. While the state does not have exact timeframes at this point, they have shared the anticipated phases of allocation. While these phases are subject to change, the graphic below (also found in the vaccination plan in the link below) illustrates what is anticipated for these phases at this time
Health Department Testing
The local Health Department (1503 South Main Street) is conducting drive through testing, free of charge, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. No doctor’s order is required, and no appointment is necessary. Anyone can be tested regardless of symptoms.
County Administrative Professional Certification
Beth Wyatt-Davis, my Office Manager, has completed the County Administrative Professional Certificate administered by the County Technical Assistance Service, an extension of the University of Tennessee. The County Administrative Professional Certificate is designed for individuals who want to develop skills for a variety of job functions or professional growth in county government offices. Participants earn this certificate upon completion of the required sixteen (16) courses for a total of seventeen (17) credits. The program consists of a variety of topics related to technology, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Beth stated, “The emphasis Mayor Foster has placed on continuing education for county government employees is important as we want to provide the best service possible to the people of Cumberland County.”
Thank you for being part of the solution and thank you for the opportunity to serve as your County Mayor. If you are interested in hearing my thoughts and views on news, events, and activities in Cumberland County, please subscribe to my newsletter, and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Thank you,
Allen Foster
Cumberland County Mayor
http://allenfoster.net
allenfoster.com 