Nashville COVID-19 Response

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Mayor Cooper’s COVID-19 Task Force

Dr. Alex Jahangir(Chair)/Chairman, Metro Public Health Department Board of Health

Tim Adams, President/CEO, Saint Thomas Health and Ministry Market Executive, Ascension Tennessee

Dr. James E.K. Hildreth, President and CEO, Meharry Medical College

Dr. Wright Pinson, Deputy CEO and Chief Health Systems Officer, VUMC

Heather Rohan, President, TriStar Division, HCA

Dr. Joseph Webb, CEO, Nashville General Hospital

William Swann/Director-Chief, Office of Emergency Management-Nashville Fire Department

All the frontline workers in Davidson County – the clinicians, administrative, and support staff – who make our citywide coronavirus monitoring and response strategy possible.

The COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee has granted funds to the United Way of Greater Nashville, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Pathway Lending, Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Conexion Americas, Nashville Business Incubation Center, and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce to help individuals and businesses that are hurting. Please use the links below to find assistance:

Metro Services Take Action to Help

Metro Water has suspended cut-offs and will waive late fees until the end of November but will resume regular collection practices December 1, 2020.  Metro Water Services customers who have found themselves experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to request a payment plan for outstanding balances by calling 615-862-4600.

For full information on Nashville Electric Service billing, services and payment plans, click here. 

All public transit systems remain fully operational.

Metro Schools Food Services

Metro Schools is providing grab and go meals at schools and at bus route stops throughout the district at no cost to children 18 and under. For information and to find your meal delivery bus stop, please visit mnps.org/nutrition

WEDNESDAY FOOD BOX DISTRIBUTION

Our Community Achieves team will deliver food boxes every Wednesday at these locations while schools are operating virtually. (Please note times could change due to inclement weather)

  1. Antioch High School, 900 Hobson Pike, Antioch, at 12 p.m. on the following dates: October 14 & 28
  2. Glencliff High School, 160 Antioch Pike, beginning at 12 p.m. on the following dates: October 21
  3. Hillwood High School, 400 Davidson Road, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
  4. McGavock High School, 3150 McGavock Pike, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

THURSDAYS

Pearl-Cohn High School and Westwood Baptist Church, 2510 Albion Street, Thursday beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) toll-free hotline remains open to families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia illnesses during this time. With many care facilities, adult day care centers and other services closed for the time being, AFA is one of the only sources of information, support and guidance available.  This is especially important because the outbreak is causing many people, particularly higher-risk individuals such as senior citizens, to break from their normal routines and isolate.

The Toll-Free Helpline (866-232-8484) is open seven days a week and staffed entirely by licensed social workers who are trained in dementia care.

AFA is able to assist callers with topics/questions about combating isolation, keeping engaged, washing tips, caregiver stress, whether family members should visit during this time, items to have in the home, and more.

Families can connect with the AFA Helpline in any of the following ways:

  • Via phone by calling 866-232-8484
  • Web chat by visiting www.alzfdn.org and clicking on the blue and white chat icon on the lower right-hand corner of the page
  • Sending a text message to 646-586-5283

The web and text chat features are available in more than 90 languages.

Tennessee Department of Human Services

Tennessee Department of Human Services has multiple programs to help families, children, and people with disabilities struggling due to COVID-19.

Mental Health Resources

The entire world is facing unprecedented fear and uncertainty. Recommended social distancing protocols mean more people are feeling isolated than ever before. Metro Nashville, in partnership with Psych Hub, is sharing the below resources to help people build resilience and find ways to cope.

We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Persons in crisis should call the Mobile Crisis line at 615-726-0125, or the Crisis Center at 615-244-7444, or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255).

For more information about the Clinical Health Services offered by Metro Health, click here.

General Resources:

Resources for Youth:

Health care workers, including those on the front line of the pandemic and those providing behavioral health care, are also suffering mental health consequences. A recent survey found that, of 1,257 health care workers caring for COVID-19 patients in China, 71.5% report experiencing symptoms of psychological distress. Additionally, 50% showed symptoms of depression, 45% of anxiety, and 34% of insomnia. Health care providers in the United States are likely to suffer the same symptoms, so we hope to get ahead of that with these resources.

Resources for Health Care Providers:

Additional Resources:

American Psychological Association (APA): APA’s resources include articles, tip sheets, podcasts, and webinars to support the mental wellness of psychologists, health care professionals, and those in quarantine due to COVID-19. Learn more at www.apa.org/COVID-19.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): AFSP’s resources are designed to help everyone to take care of their mental health and to reach out and stay connected to those who may be isolated and need the extra support. Learn more about AFSP’s resources on Mental Health and COVID19 by visiting https://afsp.org/COVID19

Columbia Psychiatry: Columbia Psychiatry resources include articles, mini-courses, podcasts, webinars and interviews to support the work and mental wellness of health care professionals, researchers, patients and those in quarantine due to COVID-19. Learn more at https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/coronavirus-resource-center and https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/covid-19-updates-and-information-columbia-psychiatry

Mental Health America: Mental Health America provides guidance in numerous areas, including financial support, tools and information on anxiety, tools to connect with others, resources for immediate response, webinars, live events and workshops, for mental health providers, parents, caregivers, older adults, domestic violence survivors, the LGBTQ community, veterans, how-to articles, and general information about COVID-19. Find the comprehensive list at mhanational.org/covid19.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI’s resources address FAQs regarding the intersection between the coronavirus and people affected by mental illness and their families and caregivers. Topics range from managing anxiety and social isolation to accessing health care and medications. Learn more at https://nami.org/covid-19.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans

Small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have suffered economic injury as a result of COVID-19 can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million per applicant to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have otherwise been met.

Interest rates for the loans are 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for nonprofit organizations. The loans can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable or other bills that can’t be paid due to the disaster’s impact.

The Economic Injury Disaster Loans are administered and processed through the SBA. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

More than $1.9 million in disaster loans have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration for Davidson County businesses and residents with losses resulting from the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding on March 3, 2020. To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration encourages businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters to apply for a disaster loan before the May 4 deadline. Anyone in the declared counties in Tennessee with damages caused by the March 3 storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding should apply for the disaster recovery loan program.

Businesses Hiring Locally

If you have lost your job due to layoffs associated with the March 3 tornado and/or the COVID-19 crisis, you can find updated information about local job openings and opportunities at visitmusiccity.com/covid-19-information.

Financial Counseling

The Nashville Financial Empowerment Center offers free, one-on-one financial counseling over the phone to Davidson County residents. Finance professionals can counsel you on how to navigate the financial aspects of uncertain times and access outside resources, if you need them. Schedule a phone session by calling 615-748-3620 or visiting fec.nashville.gov.

A Guide to File for Unemployment

For Employers: click tn.gov/workforce/covid-19/employers 

For Workers: click tn.gov/workforce/employees

Or follow these steps:

1. Go to Jobs4tn.gov
2. Click on “Unemployment Benefits”
3. Select “File a Claim”
4. If you have an account, sign in by entering your username and password
5. If you do not have an account, click “Next” to proceed to the next screen
6. Follow the prompts, and enter the required information