Murfreesboro Mayor Briefing 1-5-21

Jan 05, 2021 at 06:30 pm by WGNS


Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland talks with Rutherford County Health Department Interim Director LaShan Dixon and Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency Director Chris Clark about COVID-19 vaccinations, how they're being administered and how the infrastructure is being affected by the latest surge in COVID-19:

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PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland is joined by Dr. Vincent L. Windrow, associate vice provost for Student Success and former director of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs at Middle Tennessee State University:


 

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland is joined by Dr. Vincent L. Windrow, associate vice provost for Student Success and former director of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs at Middle Tennessee State University and Officer Cormac Chandler and Sgt. Bryant Mitchell with the Murfreesboro Police Department. The primary discussion centered on the topic of racial relations:


 

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland is joined by Dr. Vincent L. Windrow, associate vice provost for Student Success and former director of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs at Middle Tennessee State University and has served as pastor of Olive Branch Church. The primary discussion centered on the topic of racial inequities, which will be continued in the coming weeks and months:


 

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland held a media briefing Monday (6-1-20) to discuss the latest COVID-19 news and the Sunday protest in the city:




PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland held a media briefing Wednesday (5-13-20)

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland held a media briefing Tuesday (4-28-20)

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland held a media briefing Thursday (4-23-20):

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland updates the city on the COVID-19 crisis Wednesday, 4-15-20:

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland updates the city on the COVID-19 crisis Wednesday, 4-8-20:

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland updates the city on the COVID-19 crisis Wednesday, 4-1-20:

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

A local 'State of Emergency' for the City of Murfreesboro has been issued in response to COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, pandemic. Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland held a media briefing Thursday evening, which was carried LIVE on WGNS. If you missed it, we have the audio on-demand.

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

A local 'State of Emergency' for the City of Murfreesboro has been issued in response to COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, pandemic. Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland held a media briefing Monday evening, which was carried LIVE on WGNS. If you missed it, we have the audio on-demand.

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland issued an order (Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 6pm) declaring a local 'State of Emergency' for the City of Murfreesboro in response to COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, pandemic.

The order requires all alcohol and food service businesses to close for on-site consumption and gym, exercise and fitness facilities to close, effective 12am Monday (March 22, 2020).

Mayor McFarland says he's very concerned about our local businesses and is urging citizens to patronize them:



The mayor added he assures residents the city is being transparent with information about the coronavirus:



McFarland says there is one big thing residents can do to help with misinformation:



The mayor says something like this crisis leaves us with many questions, but it also reveals the best in people as seen with the community coming together:



While WGNS carried the full Facebook conversation LIVE on air, we have a link to it on WGNSRadio.com. The mayor was joined by Dr. Paul Patel, an internal and family medicine doctor from Murfreesboro Medical Clinic.

 

Posted by Mayor McFarland on Saturday, March 21, 2020

 

CONTINUE BELOW TO READ MORE ABOUT THE STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION:

This Order, among other things:

  • Orders that establishments whose primary business is alcohol service or food service (other than pick-up, take-out, delivery, or drive-through service) within the City of Murfreesboro close for on-site consumption, effective at 12:00 a.m. Monday, March 22, 2020, and shall remain closed for on-site consumption until the Order is withdrawn;
  • Orders all gyms and exercise and fitness facilities within the City of Murfreesboro close effective at 12:00 a.m. on Monday, March 22, 2020, and shall remain closed until this Order is withdrawn;
  • Declares that the City, to the extent possible and provided by law, shall follow CDC guidance as it relates to COVID-19, and specifically authorizes the City Manager to take reasonably necessary steps to limit person-to-person public access to City offices and facilities and to develop and implement alternative work arrangements and schedules to protect City employees during this pandemic;
  • Suspends certain procedures and formalities otherwise required under the Murfreesboro City Code or Tennessee law pertaining to how the City conducts its operations;
  • Encourages all members of the public and businesses to follow and comply with guidance and directives issued by the federal CDC as well as the Tennessee and Rutherford County departments of health; and
  • Encourages all members of the public to remain calm, to resist panic purchasing, consider their neighbors who have need, and to look after and help those most at risk to this pandemic to include the elderly and those with suppressed immune systems.

The Mayor issued the order pursuant to special emergency powers granted to local governments pursuant to state law and follows three Executive Orders issued by Governor Bill Lee in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While Rutherford County only has 5 confirmed cases by the Tennessee Health Department, we need to be proactive to stop the spread and save lives, so I am taking strong action ahead of additional cases," said Mayor Shane McFarland. "Our top priority is protecting the health and safety of our citizens."

"The City will continue to deliver critical services throughout the emergency period," City Manager Craig Tindall said. "Some non-critical service may be limited, and facilities may be closed or have limited access. Those limitations and closures will be communicated on the City website and updated continuously. Police, Fire, Water, Utilities, Solid Waste, emergency management and communications will be unaffected. Murfreesboro Airport remains fully operational, and City Schools will continue its CHOW food program. We are committed to the safety of our residents and visitors as well as the employees of the City. The City encourages everyone to continue following CDC and Tennessee Department of Health guidelines and recommendations."

Mayor McFarland added "We want to make sure our residents and employees are safe as we work to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and provide essential services, follow CDC guidelines and adhere to recommendations of Governor Lee and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). As I have previously told Council, we have fought significant challenges in this City before. I'm confident we will get through this with the help of skilled healthcare providers, courageous first responders, and diligent City staff."

The City of Murfreesboro wants to thank the community and its municipal and County partners, especially the Rutherford County Mayor and Health Department, for their leadership and cooperation in responding to this challenge in unified fashion.

Persons with medical concerns should continue to call the Rutherford County Health Department at 615-898-7880 or their primary healthcare provider to be connected with appropriate resources.

Citizens can follow the latest Coronavirus information from the City of Murfreesboro and our State and Federal partners on CityTV or the City of Murfreesboro website. Just click this link: https://www.murfreesborotn.gov/1690/Coronavirus-Information.

The City continues to urge all citizens to follow CDC practices:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Cover your cough and sneezing.
  • Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Practice social distancing.
  • Stay home when you are sick and call your physician or the County Health Department at 615-898-7880 or the State Information Hotline: 1-877-857-2945 for guidance.
  • Stay home if you come into contact with someone who is sick.
  • Clean and disinfect objects (e.g., cell phone, computer) and high touch surfaces.
  • Make sure you continue to have adequate supplies, such as medications, if needed.

To follow City of Murfreesboro closings and cancellations, visit https://www.murfreesborotn.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2831.

For information announced by the Governor and Tennessee Department of Health, visit

https://www.tn.gov/governor/covid-19.html.

https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html.

Click here to access the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 webpage for the most up to date information and guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.

 

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