Tennessee's U.S. senators and congressmen on Monday urged President Donald Trump to move quickly and approve Gov. Bill Lee's request the state be declared a "major disaster" area to let it qualify for emergency federal funding to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus and deal with its impact.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee today announced Monday he is issuing a statewide order closing "non-essential" businesses and directing state residents to remain at home to battle the continuing spread of the coronavirus, according to sources.
As they grapple with COVID-19 as well as existing infrastructure needs, Hamilton County, Chattanooga and nine other municipalities within the county can look forward to some $9.2 million as their share of a $200 million statewide grant program created by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and state lawmakers.
The Tennessee complaint says "specifically, Tennessee's guidelines exclude people with 'advanced neuromuscular disease' who require 'assistance with activities of daily living or requiring chronic ventilatory support,' from accessing critical care, including ventilators."
Tennessee's two largest cities, Nashville and Memphis, are expected to directly receive between $100 million and $125 million in relief through Congress' just-approved $2 trillion coronavirus response act.
The U.S. House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a sweeping $2.2 trillion spending bill intended to address national economic and health care systems as well as states and local governments left reeling by the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander revealed Friday that his daughter, who lives in New York, has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Gov. Bill Lee announced Thursday his administration has launched a public-service announcement campaign featuring dozens of Tennessee sports and entertainment figures urging millions of state residents to adopt preventive health measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said Thursday that Tennessee government is slated to receive an estimated $2.8 billion to $3 billion through the $2.2 trillion emergency economic rescue package that passed the Senate Wednesday.
More than three dozen groups and individuals, including Metro Nashville's former public defender, have filed an emergency petition urging Tennessee Supreme Court justices to reduce COVID-19 health risks in state prisons, local jails and juvenile detention centers by releasing prisoners they say represent low risks.
