A Tennessee legislator's tweet that "the national media is promoting fear and sheer panic" earns well-deserved criticism. 

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris says in an exclusive interview with The Daily Memphian that he would not have gone with a Memphis In May delegation to Ghana had he had any idea of how quickly the coronavirus pandemic would explode.

While The Daily Memphian’s COVID-19 coverage is available to everyone for free, it is not free to produce. 

'One piece of good news is that the other coronaviruses that continue to circulate among humans typically cause very mild illness like a common cold.'

Gov. Bill Lee issued a disaster declaration Wednesday, enabling small businesses to seek federal loans as coronavirus cases are expected to rise amid increased testing.

The popular restaurants in the Enjoy A|M group have closed because of fears of coronavirus and dwindling diners.

The county plans to renovate the facility to house about 146 young people.

Daily Memphian photographers Jim Weber, Mark Weber and Patrick Lantrip, along with a number of regular contributors, document the impact as citizens, businesses and government deal with the novel coronavirus in Memphis and Shelby County. To view our full coverage, check out The Daily Memphian’s coronavirus landing page.

For more images, view the April gallery here.

We are doing our best to tell readers what is happening with the virus, especially regarding testing in Memphis.

Shelby County Schools will begin distributing meals to students who need them Monday, March 23. The program will start with lunch but could be extended to breakfast depending on response.

Even with fourth coronavirus patient, Shelby County Health Department director said there is still no need for mass testing.

Changes to state law approved in subcommittee Wednesday will allow bodies like the Shelby County Commission and Memphis City Council to meet and take votes by conference calls.

Gov. Bill Lee introduced a “no-growth” budget for the next fiscal year, reducing a 3.1% revenue growth projection to zero and eliminating dozens of spending proposals while spending hundreds of millions to respond to the COVID-19 emergency.

The proposal aims to lift the burden of testing and other state mandates from public schools disrupted by the ongoing spread of COVID-19, as well as deadly twisters that shredded parts of Middle Tennessee this month.

It's Wednesday, March 18, and we're hunkered down, though not because the city's State of Emergency tells us we have to be. Look for how FedEx and UPS are taking care of couriers as more packages are being shipped directly to homes and, sorry, more closures and cancellations. 

A Facebook page will be the home base for this unified faith effort. You can find the page by searching for Memphis Clergy COVID-19 Response. Anyone can access the page and offer to work on a project.

As coronavirus cases continue to rise in the area and statewide, cleaning services are seeing a larger number of requests for thorough treatment of commercial and residential spaces.

• Tennessee's 98 cases mostly in patients between 18-49 years old
• Small business emergency declared
• Nike donating $500,000 to Memphis response
• Community Foundation launches response fund

As Kevin Durant and three other Brooklyn Nets test positive for COVID-19, the NBA Board of Governors hears from a former U.S. surgeon general on the "grim potential impact" of coronavirus. 

COVID-19, or coronavirus, testing has been slow and frustrating. Here's what you need to know about how it works. 

Gov. Bill Lee outlined an assistance plan Tuesday to help people survive the crisis financially and is expected to declare a small business emergency so companies can obtain federal loans to stay afloat.

Candidates are filing petitions for August election ballot.

U of M Athletic Director Laird Veatch outlined the steps the university is taking for athletes as all adjust to life under the coronavirus pandemic

The declaration doesn't close any businesses or force the cancellation of any events at this point. Strickland says it unlocks federal assistance to the city and allows the city to make quick buys of emergency equipment and supplies. 

Small businesses in Memphis may soon be receiving assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration in the form of Economic Injury Disaster loans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.