Robertson Co. News

Business experts say the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is good news for Tennessee’s economy. Tennessee’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Bradley Jackson says the state’s economic growth has been strong and more consistent than other states. Experts also say they expect Tennessee’s hospitality industry will begin to boom again next year as the vaccine becomes more widely available. A study released yesterday by the University of Tennessee’s Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research showed tax revenue from building materials and retail is skyrocketing and unemployment is steadily declining as more companies move into the state.

State lawmakers want to crack down on illegal street racing. A bill introduced at the state capitol would increase penalties for people charged with illegal drag racing, changing the crime from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Class A Misdemeanor. It would increase the penalty from up to six months behind bars and a 500-dollar fine to a year in prison and a one-thousand-dollar fine. The bill would also make it more likely that the driver’s car would be taken by police.

No country is more infectious than the U.S. and no state in the country is more infectious than Tennessee when it comes to COVID-19.

“Tennessee, as we speak, is the number one hot spot for transmission for the coronavirus in the entire world,” said Dr. Steve Threlkeld, infectious disease specialist with Baptist Hospital in Memphis.

“We’re not just high. We are the number one place in the world right now, in Tennessee, for coronavirus transmission. This is not a drill. We are the worst in the world.”

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee was 484,285 as of Wednesday. That is an increase of 11,410 cases since the day before.

There have been 5,668 deaths, an increase of 53 new deaths. There area 2,874 current hospitalizations and 411,843 inactive/recovered

The U.S. Department of Labor reported 28,559 new unemployment claims filed in Tennessee and Virginia last week.

According to a report from the department, 21,095 claims were filed in Virginia during the week ending on December 12 along with Tennessee’s 7,464.

30,107 new unemployment claims filed in Tenn. and Va. last week, massive spike in Commonwealth
Since March 15, 946,775 Tennesseans have filed for unemployment, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Tennessee reported an increase in claims filed during the week ending on December 12 from the week prior. The prior week, 6,886 claims had been filed in the Volunteer State.

Tennessee Department of Health COVID-19 testing sites will begin offering self-testing kits to adults beginning December 21.

The kits will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, according to a news release from the department. Those coming for tests will remain in their vehicles while completing paperwork and collecting their samples. Health departments will submit the samples for testing and results will be available online.

The self-test kits are not approved for children under age 18. Children and adults unable to register online can still receive standard COVID-19 tests on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also, local county health departments will continue to offer COVID-19 testing five days a week at no charge.

The change at the Department of Health testing sites is to allow staff to transition from testing to vaccinating.