Local businesses are largely complying with Mayor Jim Strickland’s “Safer at Home” executive order, the mayor wrote in a Saturday afternoon address.

Through the City of Memphis’ COVID-19 blog, Strickland logged a brief summary of complaints issued by citizens to Code Enforcement officials.

As of Friday, April 3, 125 original complaints had been filed, with 22 complaints stemming from duplicate reports.

In 98 visits, code enforcement deemed 68 of the incidents were in compliance of the executive order. Nineteen warnings were issued as a result of non-compliance upon the first visit.

After reinspecting 27 locations, one placard was placed at a business which refused to comply after a warning. A placard is a notice to a business to vacate the property until further notice.

“As you can see, the majority of businesses come into compliance quickly,” Strickland wrote.

“Of all the inspections, only one refused to comply, and code enforcement is going out daily to inspect new complaints.”

To file a complaint against a business or person not in compliance with the Safer at Home Order, call 311.

In a Saturday morning release, the Shelby County Health Department office confirmed 706 cases of COVID-19 in Shelby County, resulting in 10 deaths.

The current total of cases confirmed in the state of Tennessee is 3,067.

The report listed numbers for neighboring counties, including Tipton County, confirming 28 cases; and Crittenden County, Arkansas, with 43 cases.

The Shelby County Health Department’s daily novel coronavirus briefing is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

Watch below: 

The Mississippi State Department of Health updated numbers on its website Saturday, April 4, to include 118 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in DeSoto County.

The county, which neighbors Memphis and Shelby County, has had one death related to COVID-19.

Nearby Marshall County, according to the site, has had 20 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and one death.

Local coronavirus cases, at a glance
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Confirmed COVID-19 cases
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The Tennessee Department of Education has released a public survey seeking feedback from all stakeholders on the most effective ways to help school districts address immediate needs to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. 

H.R. 748, the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security Act” (CARES Act) is federal legislation to provide $2 trillion in emergency relief in response to COVID-19 and includes $30.75 billion nationally for Education Stabilization Funding. 

Tennessee school districts are eligible to receive one-time relief funding, once it becomes available, based on their Title I formula percentages. Each state will be required to submit a plan that the US Department of Education must approve in order to receive funding, and the federal application is expected to open mid-April. Due to this timeline, the deadline to complete the survey is Monday, April 13. 

“For the past few weeks, we have been in frequent contact with superintendents and school leaders across the state, and there is no doubt that these one-time federal relief funds for education will be welcomed and critical,” said Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn. 

“The department is making every effort to position our state to get funding to districts as soon as possible. Our districts and educators are working hard to support students in this new distance format, and that is why I waived the 180 instructional days requirement this year following the passage of the General Assembly’s legislation last month. The department will remain laser focused on helping ensure districts have the resources they need to continue to serve the children of Tennessee.” 

The survey questions are intended to help the Department understand local needs as well as potential investments and supports that could be offered to local school districts. That includes gaining insight and input from all stakeholders in order to draft a strong plan and application for the federal government. 

The department’s efforts on the federal CARES Act is the next step in a series of state efforts to help schools and districts respond to the coronavirus pandemic and continue instruction and critical services that all students deserve. 

Last month, the Tennessee General Assembly passed Public Chapter 652 to ensure no student, teacher, or school is adversely impacted by COVID-19 related school closures. 

The United States Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security (CARES) Act, which includes one-time relief funding for local school districts, intended to address challenges of providing education during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The public survey can be accessed by clicking HERE. 

Gov. Bill Lee signed another COVID-19 executive order Friday touching on a host of areas, including giving the Health Department authority to allow post-degree, pre-licensed mental or behavioral health professionals to treat patients through telemedicine under the supervision of a licensed professional.

The measure also:

• Extends payment due date for the professional privilege tax from June 1 to July 1.
• Suspends until July 1 the April 6 deadline for filing applications for property tax relief and tax freezes, so elderly and other vulnerable populations won’t have to visit public buildings to apply.
• Gives the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development the discretion to require a terminating employer’s information faster (within four days, rather than seven days) in the unemployment benefits claims process, in order to speed up processing of benefits.
• Extends a state price gouging law for another 15-day period (it can only be invoked for 15 days at a time).
• Suspends expiration of marriage licenses issued between March 12-31 until June 30 so those delaying their weddings because of COVID-19 don’t have to pay for a new license. Normally, expiration happens within 30 days of obtaining the license if no ceremony is held.
• Suspends due dates for filing statements of interest with Tennessee Ethics Commission and Governor’s Office to July 15 so that it is consistent with the federal tax return filing deadline.
• Extends deadline for previously certified law enforcement officers in Tennessee or another state who are beginning work as full-time law enforcement officers to complete certain introductory POST Commission courses.
• Allows motor vehicle dealers to record their interest in financed vehicles with the Secretary of State while county offices are closed.
• Extends due dates for driver license reinstatement installment payments for those on payment plans until June 17.
• Provides flexibility for Tennessee Corrections Institute county jail plans in light of COVID-19 conditions.
• Suspends the requirement that funds provided to the state at walk-in state service locations be deposited within 24 hours if needed to safeguard the health, welfare and safety of state employees.