State of Emergency declared for Pikeville and Bledsoe County

The City of Pikeville and Bledsoe County are now under a state of emergency after the first two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed by the Tennessee Department of Health on Friday afternoon, March 27.

County Mayor Gregg Ridley and City Mayor Philip Cagle announced the state of emergency on Friday shortly after the state confirmed the cases. The emergency order lists essential and non-essential businesses and puts the Bledsoe County Emergency Operations Plan into effect. The emergency declaration is in effect for seven days and can be extended.

Mayor Cagle said businesses listed as non-essential should close, and urges businesses listed as essential to use their best judgment.

“We don’t want to tell and give orders for anybody to close down a business,” Cagle said. “We’re asking you to use good judgment and take notice of what you’re doing and how we could expose other people.” 

The order on businesses is below: 

ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES

Food and Drug

• Grocery and beverage stores (including stores that sale grocery items necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residents)
• Restaurants/ Bars –Only take-out and delivery
• Pharmacies
• Food-banks and Farmers Markets
• Food cultivation, including farming, livestock, and fishing

Health/Medical

• Research and Lab services
• Dental Services
• Hospitals/ Emergency Rooms
• Optometrist
• Walk-in-care health facilities
• Nursing homes or Residential Health care facilities
• Veterinary and livestock services
• Animal Grooming Services
• Elder care
• Home Health Care Workers

Transportation and Logistics

• Gas stations
• Buses
• Mail and shipping Services
• Auto Repair Shops
• Auto Dealers
• Auto Parts
• Warehouse/ distribution and fulfillment

Housing and Real Estate

• Property Management Companies (residential and commercial)
• Construction (Commercial and Residential)
• Planning, surveying, engineering, design firms
• Real Estate Agents/ Services
• Home or Building cleaning and maintenance
• Skilled Trades such as Electricians, HVAC, or Plumbers
• Hardware Stores

Services

• Day Care and Childcare Services
• Waste Disposal
• Laundromats and Laundry Services
• Funeral Homes, Crematories and Cemeteries
• Lawn Care
• Pest Control
• Legal services
• Alarm and Security Companies
• All Businesses that maintain the sanitation, safety of residents and Business
• Human/Charitable Services
• Homeless Shelters
• Businesses that provide food, shelter, social services and other necessities for those in need
• Services that provide drug/alcohol/Mental Health counseling and support
• Manufacturing
• Medical Wholesale and Distribution
• Hardware and Building Material Stores
• Food Processing, Manufacturing Agents
• Medical Equipment (PPE’s) Instruments
• Chemical Plants
• Pharmaceuticals
• Paper Goods/Cardboard
• Sanitary Products
• Transportation Parts/ Assembly Distribution
• Microelectronics/Semi-Conductor

Government

• Federal and state offices and services, including post office
• Essential Local Government functions including law enforcement, Transportation, and business that provide government programs and services. City Hall and Courthouse continue to provide services via drive thru and drop box services.

Other

• Banks and Other Financial institutions
• Newspaper/ Media
• Insurance
• Cell Phone and electronic stores
• Business that provide goods/ services via delivery, curbside pickup
• Drive thru, shipments or delivery

NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES

• Personal Appearance Businesses (Nail salons, Hair salons, Barbershops, Tattoo Shops, Day Spas)
• Retail with no exclusive delivery or curbside pick up
• Entertainment and recreational facilities
• Gyms, including yoga and spin facilities
• Sporting event Venues
• Skating Rinks / Dance schools
• Private Clubs (except for the provision of food for take-out)

For more on local COVID-19 updates, visit thebledsonian-banner.com and see the April 2 issue of The Bledsonian-Banner.