Open Letter From the
Mayors of Northeast Tennessee
Someday, when we look back
on the coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) pandemic,
what will we remember?
Will we think of how our healthcare workers and
businesses crumbled, unable to overcome the
mounting caseloads and never-ending strain?
Or will we see this year as the time our
community came together, stepped up and did
everything they could to overcome this virus?
Since early October, COVID-19 cases in
our region have continued to surge. These
infections are causing increased hospitalizations,
death and economic disruption. The effects
of COVID-19 are happening all around us;
by now, everyone has experienced friends,
family members or neighbors who have
been directly or indirectly affected.
Even though virtually everyone has been
impacted by this virus, there are numerous
outlooks, opinions and perspectives that
affect our reactions to it – and not all of
them are conducive to slowing the spread.
We need to be clear and firm. This is
the time for our community members to
do their part to protect each other.
Ballad Health, our regional health departments
and other healthcare providers have responded
to this crisis with focus, determination and
resolve. They’ve been fighting this pandemic for
most of the year, working tirelessly to protect our
loved ones and serve their healthcare needs.
When we say “tireless,” we mean it. With
the highest number of new cases in our
region to-date – over 2,000 last week – and
hospitalized COVID-19 cases set to exceed
300, our medical community is under strain.
Our healthcare workers are rising to this
challenge. They are redeploying team members,
finding new ways to deliver treatment
and services and innovating new ways to
accommodate the needs of patients safely.
We’re grateful for everything they’ve done and
continue to do. But no health system is capable
of caring for a limitless number of patients.
Garland Evely Mike Taylor
Mayor, Unicoi County Mayor, Johnson County
Joe Grandy Patty Woodby
Mayor, Washington County Interim Mayor, Carter County
There are constraints on space, on staffing
and on the well-being of frontline healthcare
workers that must be taken into consideration.
And now, in addition to COVID-19 cases spiking
in this region, we’re also on the cusp of flu
season, which will require even more from
our healthcare facilities and professionals.
Simply put: If we don’t come together now, our
region could suffer devastating and catastrophic
outcomes. Other health systems in this country
are in a position where they might not be able
to provide necessary healthcare services, due to
the pressures placed on them by this pandemic,
and we can’t risk that happening here.
This is the time to commit to infection prevention
and safety measures. Stay home and avoid large
gatherings whenever you can, and if you’re in
public, wear a mask. Remain physically distant
from others outside of your household. Get
your flu shot. And please wash your hands
and cover your coughs and sneezes – even if
you’re wearing a mask or cloth face covering.
Also, if you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms –
such as a cough, fever, sore throat, body aches
or loss of smell or taste – please heed the
advice of medical experts, self-isolate and get
tested. If you are, in fact, positive for COVID-19,
remain in isolation for at least 10 days from the
onset of symptoms and remember that it is
possible you could have been infectious two
days prior to your symptoms even starting.
This virus doesn’t discriminate between ages, and
even perfectly healthy, relatively young people
can become critically ill or even die. Families
throughout Northeast Tennessee – you probably
know some of them – will forever feel the loss
of a loved one due to this tragic pandemic.
Please join us in slowing the spread of
this virus. We can get through this, but
it will take all of us working together.
Please, do your part to limit the spread of
this virus. Do it for our healthcare workers.
Do it for our educators and essential
workers. And do it for your loved ones.
Do it so that in the future, we can look
back on this time with pride, not regret.
Richard Venable
Mayor, Sullivan County
Jim Lee
Mayor, Hawkins County