Alert Detail

Covid-19

COVID-19 Updates for Wayne County, Tennessee

Please read to the bottom for all updates by date.

Wayne County Courthouse

Jaime T. Mangubat, County Executive

100 Court Circle, Suite 300

Waynesboro, Tennessee  38485

 

November 18, 2020

 

DECLARATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

BY WAYNE COUNTY EXECUTIVE

 

WHEREAS, The President of the United States, the Governor of the State of Tennessee, and the Mayors of a number of municipalities in the state of Tennessee have made emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and have recognized it as a public health emergency; and

 

WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) advise the use of cloth or other types of face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19; and

 

WHEREAS, immediate action to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities is necessary in order to be able to safely allow governmental operations to continue, businesses to remain open, and schools to remain open for in-person learning; and

 

WHEREAS, widespread use of face coverings is believed to be effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by reducing the chances of symptomatic and asymptomatic people transmitting the virus to others, especially when used together with other protocols including 6-foot social distancing and hand hygiene; and

 

WHEREAS, on July 3, 2020, Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order 54, strongly urging all persons to wear cloth face coverings or other similar coverings in public settings where being in close proximity to others is anticipated, and

 

WHEREAS, Governor Lee through Executive Order 54, Executive Order 55, Executive 63 and Executive Order 67 delegated authority to county mayors/executives in the 89 counties that do not have a locally-run health department (including Wayne County) to issue orders requiring the wearing of face coverings within their jurisdictions, subject to certain limitations, for the purpose of slowing the spread of COVID-19; and

 

WHEREAS, the numbers of positive COVID-19 cases in Wayne County and surrounding counties significantly increased; and

 

WHEREAS, Governor Lee has now authorized County Mayors/Executives to renew such orders, and after consultation with the Mayors of the various municipalities of Wayne County and the School Superintendent, the County Executive finds that a mandate until December 29, 2020 is appropriate for the health and safety of Wayne County citizens;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY DELEGATED BY EXECUTIVE ORDERS 54, 55, 63, AND 67 AND PURSUANT TO GOVERNOR LEE’S RECOGNITION OF A CONTINUING STATE OF EMERGENCY AND MAJOR DIASTER RELATED TO COVID-19, The Wayne County Executive of Tennessee, after consultation with the Mayors of the various municipalities within Wayne County, the School Superintendent, as well as physicians and members of the health care community, issues a Declaration of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and

 

IT IS ORDERED that cloth or other face coverings that cover the nose and mouth of a person to impede the spread of the virus during speaking, coughing, sneezing or other action, shall be required in Wayne County, Tennessee, within all publicly-accessible areas of commercial business establishments; in public outdoor areas where social distancing of at least six feet cannot be maintained; and within the publicly-accessible areas of business offices where there is direct interaction with the public and social distancing of at least six feet cannot be maintained.  A “commercial business establishment” means any establishment that sells goods or services, or a combination thereof, including but not limited to grocery stores, restaurants, lobbies and public spaces in hotels and other places of lodging, pharmacies, banks, salons, retail stores, medical and dental offices, and entertainment and sports venues.

 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Order does not apply to:

  1. Any person who is age 12 or younger, provided, however, that this exception does not apply to students on school property or at school events who are subject to a face covering mandate imposed by a local board of education. In those instances, the local board of education’s mandate shall apply;
  2. Any person who cannot safely wear a face covering because he/she has trouble breathing due to an underlying health condition or another bona fide medical or health-related reason for wearing a face covering;
  3. Anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance;
  4. Persons in a private residence;
  5. Persons who are outdoors, unless the person cannot substantially maintain appropriate 6-foot social distancing from others outside of the person’s household;
  6. Persons while eating or drinking;
  7. Persons in a place of worship or participating in activity attendant to worship (unless a face covering is required by the place of worship or other location where worship activity is occurring), although persons in places of worship or participating in activities attendant to worship are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19;
  8. Persons within private motor vehicles, unless such vehicle is being used for public transportation or a vehicle for hire;
  9. Persons working under conditions where appropriate social distancing of a at least six feet from others outside the person’s household is substantially maintained;
  10. Persons present in government facilities or on government premises, who shall be subject to the rules and regulations of the governmental entity operating the facility or premises. Persons present in the public areas of all Wayne County government facilities will wear cloth or other face coverings, subject to the age and health restrictions outlined herein, and subject to number 11 below.  Other local governmental entities may issue their own directives regarding their facilities;
  11. Persons in a voting site for the purpose of voting or administering an election; although such persons are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19;
  12. Persons who are engaging in strenuous exercise and/or physical activity, provided, however, that such persons shall maintain 6-foot social distancing when not wearing a face covering;
  13. Persons for whom wearing a face covering would pose a safety or security risk.

 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that businesses and facilities subject to this Order shall post signage at public entrances informing patrons of the requirements to wear a mask within the establishment, and shall facilitate compliance with the requirement within the establishment.

 

This local order constitutes an order promulgated pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Chapter 2, Part 1.  While it is the hope and expectation that Wayne County Citizens will comply with this Order out of a sense of civic duty and respect for their fellow citizens, and attempts at education and communication are the preferred methods of obtaining compliance, state law provides for enforcement of this Order if necessary.  Pursuant to Executive Orders 54, 55, 63 and 67, and Tennessee Code Annotated S58-2-120, violation of this Order shall constitute a Class A misdemeanor.

 

This Order shall become effective at 11:59 p.m. on November 18, 2020, and will expire at 11:59 p.m. on December 29, 2020 as required by Executive Order 67, unless sooner cancelled or unless extended pursuant to subsequent authorization by the Governor.



May 15, 2020

            I have spoken directly with Core Civic Administration and have been informed that the new nearly sixty (60) Covid-19 cases in Wayne County are in the Clifton Facility.  Those inmates have been quarantined and will remain so until fourteen (14) days from the time that they tested positive.  There were no staff members who have tested positive at this time. 

            Those new cases are a result of increased testing as directed by the Governor of Tennessee approximately 1800 were tested including the staff.  At this time I have been informed that all of these people were asymptomatic.

Jim Mangubat

County Executive



May 4, 2020 

Wayne County Recovery Plan Update #3

Wayne County Government Buildings will re-open Monday, May 11, 2020.

We request that upon entering the individual offices only two members of the public be in the office at one time. Wearing masks is not required but recommended. Please maintain social distancing in the offices.
THANK YOU to everyone for your understanding during the past months.

If you have questions call the office of the County Executive at 931-722-3653.

April 24, 2020

 

 Wayne County Recovery Plan Update #1

 

            Today during his press conference The Governor of Tennessee gave further guidance concerning the re-opening of businesses.  After these new recommendations were released by the office of The Governor the Recovery Plan for Wayne County will be modified to include but not limited to the following:

 

A)     Only Restaurants will be recommended to re-open Monday, April 27, 2020 at 50% capacity and also following the guidelines listed on the TN.GOV website for restaurants.

 

B)     Retail Businesses will be recommended to re-open Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 50% capacity and also following the guidelines listed on the TN.GOV website for retail businesses.

 

C)    ALL other businesses including Hair, Salons, Barber Shops, Tanning Salons, Nail Salons, Pet Grooming, Tattoo Shops, Massage Therapy, etc. are not recommended to re-open at this time.

 

The Governor’s office stated that they would have further guidance next week regarding Churches, Medical Procedures, and Gyms.

 

The information concerning these recommendation may be obtained at the TN.Gov website or by calling the office of the County Executive at 931-722-3653.

 

Jim Mangubat

 

County Executive



M
arch 31, 2020

A health risk to the public exists due to COVID-19. I, Jim Mangubat, County Executive of Wayne County to ensure the safety of our citizens declare a State of Emergency for Wayne County on this 31st day of March 2020. 

Jim Mangubat
County Executive



March 30, 2020

Mayor Statement

We have been notified by the TDH that a resident of Wayne County has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.  The patient has been placed in quarantine.

This is not unexpected.  Your local officials have been preparing for and expecting this for weeks.  We are coordinating with the TDH and the healthcare community to make sure all Wayne County residents are protected.

The worst thing we can do during trying times like this is panic.  It is important to remember that the vast majority of patients that contract this virus have a mild course of illness and recover quickly.   If you are ill with respiratory symptoms, it is very important that you call your doctor first. Do not go the Emergency Department or any doctor's office without calling first.  We all have to work together to make sure our health care community is not overwhelmed with worried well. 

We will continue to closely monitor this evolving situation and will adapt our response as appropriate.  Over the next several weeks we might all suffer some inconveniences.  You might see things like, you have to do thru the drive through at the bank or a restaurant.  There might be some other temporary closures of businesses in the community but this will end and we will be stronger as a community. 

Here are some things you can do to help.

 As I mentioned, do not go to the doctor or the ER without calling first.  Keep your hands clean and continue to practice social distancing.  If you are feeling bad, stay at home.  Keep an eye on our elders.  They need to be staying at home as much as possible and we need to support them and keep them safe. People over the age of 65 and those with prior illness are at greatest risk so we need to some together and support them.

Again, I want to emphasize, this was not unexpected.  We are prepared and are working closely with the TDH and all agencies of government at all levels to minimize the impact on the residents of Wayne County.  That has been and continues to be our primary concern.  We will get through this together.  Of this I am certain.

Individuals with specific questions can call the TDH Information line at 877-857-2945 or the South Central information line at 931-490-8312.

 

March 29, 2020

I have spoken directly with CoreCivic administration and have been informed that they do have an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19.  The employee is NOT a resident of Wayne County and that this individual is NOT in the Wayne Medical Center Hospital. The following is being issued jointly by CoreCivic and Wayne County Government:

On March 28, we learned that a CoreCivic employee, who works at our South Central Correctional Center in Clifton, TN, has tested positive for COVID-19. The employee is currently at a local hospital receiving treatment. Efforts are underway to notify other employees or contractors that may have been in contact with the individual who tested positive.

We are closely monitoring our inmate population and have placed 35 inmates who may have been in contact with this employee on quarantine in a separate housing unit at the facility. We've reported the matter to the Tennessee Department of Health, and we'll work closely with them to implement any recommendations they have. We're also working closely with our partners at Tennessee Department of Correction.   

CoreCivic is working hard to protect our employees, those entrusted to our care, and our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have a Coronavirus Medical Action Plan in place at each of our facilities, which we've been working on since January. This plan includes:

*    Having medical staff participate in the intake process to identify those who are deemed high-risk of being infected with or contracting COVID-19;

*    Isolating those who are deemed high-risk as needed; and

*    Working with local and state health departments to conduct appropriate testing.

All of our facilities are actively promoting the following three health habits for inmates, detainees and residents, as well as staff: regular hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette (coughing or sneezing into a sleeve or tissue), and avoiding touching one's face. We also encourage the practice of social distancing, when feasible, for all individuals within our facilities.

Our health services administrators cooperate fully with local and state health departments, and our protocols mirror local, state, and federal recommendations. Our plan and practices build on the extensive work we do every day to run clean, healthy and safe facilities. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of all our medical staff during this time.

We have asked all of our employees to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases by adhering to the following recommendations:

*    Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

*    Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

*    Stay home when you are sick.

*    Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

*    Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

*    Follow the CDC's recommendations for using a facemask (medical professionals).

*    Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

We ask at this time all non-essential employees to please stay home and take precautionary steps. 



County Buildings Closed to the Public

Update March 27, 2020

The Governor has recommended that schools be closed through April 24, 2020 and the Tennessee Supreme Court has suspended court until April 30, 2020.

In addition, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to rise.  Therefore I am extending the closure of all county government buildings to the public through April 24, 2020.

These are unprecedented times that we all are facing.  I appreciate your understanding during this pandemic.

Jim Mangubat

County Executive

Wayne County offices closing through March 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That wise old saying is the reasoning behind my decision to close Wayne County Government offices through the end of this month. Employees will be here and ready to help when you call, email, or fax, but our buildings will be closed to the public.

This is absolutely no reason to worry more than you already do. As I’m writing this, there are no cases of Coronavirus outside Tennessee’s major population centers. It is very contagious, but so is the flu, which has a greater impact on people of all ages every year than Coronavirus has.

The list of precautions is very basic: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Catch coughs and sneezes in your arm or a tissue. Clean and disinfect high-touch items like cell phones often. Stay home if you are sick.

Reduce person-to-person contact and avoid crowds.

Because our offices are places where people gather and person-to-person contact occurs, we are reducing everyone’s risk by closing for this short period of time. I ask that you be patient, as this situation is entirely new for all of us. And remember, this too shall pass.

Please take time to read this information from our offices:

WAYNE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT – The Health Department will remain open during this period, but Coronavirus testing should be sought through your physician or a walk-in clinic. If you have questions about Coronavirus, please call the state’s toll-free number at 877-857-2945 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

You can find more information at the CDC website, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html, or the Tennessee Department of Health website,

https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html. Please check these sites for the most up-to-date and accurate information. Get the facts and help stop the spread of misinformation.

The Wayne County Health Department may be reached at 931-722-3292. Please be patient, as many people are calling.

SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATION – The transfer station is open, so residents, businesses and municipalities can bring garbage and other materials for drop-off. The office is closed to the public.  If you have questions, call 931-722-9616.

SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AND JAIL – The lobby of the Sheriff’s Department is open.  Please call 931-722-3615 if you have questions.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE’s OFFICE – If you have any questions, call my office at 931-722-3653. Any messages will be returned as soon as possible.

COUNTY COURT CLERK – Please use mail and internet as much as possible.  If any business can be delayed until after March 31, we ask that you do so. If you have questions call 931-722-5544.

PROPERTY ASSESSOR – Business with the Property Assessor can be conducted by calling 931-722-5282.

TRUSTEE – Please conduct as much business as possible through the phone or email. Any questions please call 931-722-3269.

REGISTER OF DEEDS – Most business can be taken care of with a phone call. The primary number is 931-722-5518. If you need to record a document, your fully prepared deed or document (no blanks) can be mailed to Wayne County Register of Deeds100 Court Circle, Suite 205, Waynesboro, TN 38485. If you are unsure about the recording fees, please call.

ELECTION COMMISSION OFFICE – To send forms, including qualifying petitions, to the Election office, please mail to Wayne County Election Office, 100 Court Circle, Suite 201, Waynesboro, TN  38485. The qualifying deadline for the August 6, 2020 election is April 2, 2020 at 12 Noon. Call the office at 931-722-3517 with any questions.

CIRCUIT COURT CLERK –Fees can be mailed to P. O. Box 869, Waynesboro, TN 38485. Please be sure to include your name and any other identifying information with your payment. Call the office at 931-722-5519 if you have questions.

CLERK & MASTER – Call the office’s direct line, 931-722-5517, if you have questions.

WAYNE COUNTY LIBRARY – All Libraries in the County will be closed to the public.  Any questions please call 931-722-5537.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT – The Wayne County Highway Department can be reached at 931-722-5556.

EXTENSION SERVICE – The Wayne County Extension Service is also closed to the public. If you have questions, please call 931-722-3229.

VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE – Please conduct as much business as possible by phone at 931-722-9219.

SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT – The office will be closed, if you have questions please call 931-722-3553.

Again, thanks for your patience during this time. We value all our residents, and want to do our part to keep everyone healthy. I pray for the quick end of this trying time and for your peace of mind.

March 24, 2020

A health risk to the public exists due to COVID-19. I, Jim Mangubat, County Executive of Wayne County to ensure the safety of our citizens declare a State of Emergency for Wayne County on this 24th day of March 2020. 

Jim Mangubat
County Executive