(November 6, 2020 -PARIS, TN) Henry County Mayor Brent Greer has extended the county masking requirement order another seven days through Saturday night, November 14th. The existing order was set to expire
Saturday night at midnight.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order 65 on October 29th which continues the provisions of Executive Order 63 and 55 to provide 89 rural Tennessee counties, including Henry County, the option to issue local masking requirements through December 27th to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Henry County Mayor Brent Greer stated, “The county had 34 positive cases reported on Wednesday, which is the highest number of cases reported on one day. The second highest day was 30 back on July 29. The Henry County case rate averaged 15 cases each day for the past seven days up from 9.7 a week ago. Today, the State Dept of Health is reporting the county has 146 active COVID-19 cases, which is up from last weeks 94 cases. The State Department of Health is reporting one additional death due to COVID-19, bringing the county total to thirteen. The spike we are seeing in our county and state is concerning. COVID fatigue appears to be settling in and could be difficult to overcome, however, we must work harder to get these numbers down. If you feel sick, stay home. Continue to follow recommended hygiene practices by washing hands frequently, using hand sanitizer frequently, social distance from others in public and wear a mask when in public places.”
On November 5th, the Tennessee Medical Association sent out a letter to Tennessee county mayors to make a case to issue masking orders in their respective county. According to Dr. Kevin Smith, President of the TMA, “A recent study by Vanderbilt School of Medicine has indicated virus mitigation strategies, including masking, in communities can reduce hospitalizations due to Coronavirus. These strategies can put local hospitals in a much better position to serve the entire spectrum of community health needs, not just COVID-19 patients.”
The State of Tennessee is 16th in the nation in regard to highest spread rate and 5th in rate of new deaths per 100,000 persons. Henry County continues to remain a “red” county on the Whitehouse Coronavirus Task Force map meaning to have a spread rate higher than 10.1%.
Henry County Medical Center provided an update on November 4th, reporting four positive inpatients and two outpatients are being treated. The Henry County Health Dept continues to provide free COVID testing averaging 25-35 persons per day. The Health Dept tests Monday – Friday from 8:30AM to 10:30 AM by appointment only.
View Mayor Greer’s Executive Order 11-6-2020 here
