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Lee COVID-19 press conference for Aug. 6




Lee Aug. 6Jason Reynolds

Lee Aug. 6Jason Reynolds

This is a summary of Gov. Bill Lee’s Aug. 6 press conference on COVID-19, the reopening of schools and voting information.

Lee:

Today I signed an executive order to honor Deborah K. Johnson, the prison administrator killed in an escape that happened last year. The Tennessee Prison for Women is being named for her.

No other setting influences a child’s health as school, those who depend on services and stability. Our experts agree with the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics and others that in-person learning is critical to the future of our state. Kids deserve our whole-hearted effort to make sure the school year is a success.

Data show the summer after third grade, kids lose over 27 percent of math knowledge. By 7th grade, that loss is nearly 50 percent. The longer kids are out, the more they lose. Tennessee is 25th in fourth grade math attainment. Educators have moved us forward, but we cannot regress.

The Center for Reinventing Public Education says we are one of the states that presented a strong academic plan for remote learning in combination with in-person learning.

Penny Schwinn, Education Commissioner:

One-third of districts have reopened. Another one-third will reopen next week. Ten districts will be remote only. All have some type of remote learning.

We are creating continuous learning plans for remote settings. PPE supply kits are being delivered. Teachers and other staff will have protective equipment.

Best for All Central is a new online tool for educators and families to support student learning in any context.

Professional development courses have been free throughout the summer. Over 20,000 teachers participated. Best for All Central will add to that.

An entire year’s worth of video instruction will be online.

We also are launching the Bridging the Distance website to help families navigate the year. It will help parents talk to teachers. It includes Remote Learning 101 for parents, videos, and help for families with kids with disabilities.

There is literacy curriculum help.

On top of the $50 million Lee gave districts for buying 250,000 devices, there is now $15 million for wifi and MiFi for households. (MiFi is the brand name for a wireless router that serves as mobile wifi hotspot.)

Dr. Lisa Piercey, Health Commissioner:

We continue to work with the Education Department. Our role is to advocate for students, empower parents, and support teachers, and help districts. The benefits of in-class learning include child safety and more. Parents must have a choice. I am a parent, and parents know a child’s need better than anyone.

Testing: Over last few days the case counts are down but testing numbers are down too. It’s not dramatic. It’s down nationally over 3.5 percent. The reasons include there are fewer people getting sick: if you look at CLI, or the covid-like index curve, it monitors the number of people being seen in ERs for covid-like symptoms (there is such a measure for the flu). Also, we are prioritizing screening and lab throughput based on symptomatic people. You can still get tested at any health department, but many clinics and labs are prioritizing. Also, and this is concerning, there are some people avoiding testing because of the delays in lab processing. This is national. Some people have mild symptoms and don’t like the turnaround time. It’s critical to get tested. Turnaround time is just north of 3 days, but there is hope in throughput.

Isolation vs. quarantine. They mean different things. Isolation is what you do when you are sick, and it’s normally 10 days from symptom onset, and after that if symptoms are better, you are good to go. You do not need to test after that; CDC says in most cases do not get retested for three months.

Quarantine: You do this after being exposed to a confirmed case. Exposure is close contact, not passing by someone, not meeting someone in the hall. It’s less than six feet for ten minutes or more: share a meal, go to a meeting, ride in a car. If you are exposed in that realm, quarantine at home for 14 days. You do not need to be tested unless you develop symptoms. Fourteen days is the incubation period.

Questions:

Q for Piercey: Is there an update for how covid will be reported for schools? For Schwinn: Do we know how wifi and MiFi will be distributed, especially in poor areas?

Piercey: I did not say last week that we would not track it. What I meant is public tracing reporting. Regarding reporting, it has been a hot topic. We are working on this plan. We think we can say more next week.

Schwinn: Districts will have equal opportunity, but needy parents will have priority. This is a reimbursement grant like the device grant.

Q to Lee: Can you react to the court ruling on the absentee ballot issue? Why would the state require voters, especially older, to go vote in person when kids learn online?

Lee: The court recognized we are creating a safe environment at the polls. There are many reasons you can vote absentee.

Q: Do you think it was the right decision?

Lee: I do.

Q: When did you vote?

Lee: I voted early last week.

Q: Remote learning materials and wifi and MiFi will be useful for families, but even with those funds, many districts have trouble getting the supplies. Metro will not get theirs until November.

Schwinn: Across the country, everyone is trying to get laptops. We did a state-negotiated contract in February for districts to get earlier access. Districts using their own contracts are seeing delays. We are encouraging creative answers.

Q: Are you concerned about students without laptops this week?

Schwinn: Absolutely. Every student is entitled to 180 days of instruction. Often, they are already having achievement gaps.

Q for Piercey: You are tracking cases, so at least a dozen districts already reported cases. Is that expected and is it alarming?

Piercey: We have said for weeks we know there will be cases in schools. Alcoa’s case was on the first or second day and so did not happen in school, but this will happen. But the risk of not being in school exists. Schwinn is helping districts, and we are helping her.

Q: Who did you vote for as U.S. senator?

Lee: I’m certain any number of candidates will do good.

Q: Contact sports: We have seen reports in Greeneville schools there have been a couple of cases. How can you ensure kids are safe?

Piercey: It’s higher risk than sitting in a classroom. We also know sports are crucial to physical and mental well-being. With the guidelines, we try to make it as safe as possible. But like in classes, you don’t have to do it. We have seen athletes opt out. I am pleased with how the guidelines turned out for participants and spectators. Fans need to wear masks.

Q: The state had 42 deaths. Is that moving to rural areas?

Piercey: Today, yes, 42 is the highest. That should be seen in context, and had some of the lowest days recently. Look at it as an average over time. The average is going up, but death is a lagging indicator and will not show up until two-three weeks after a surge in cases. Three weeks ago, cases were up. Death happens 12 to 13 days after onset of illness, and take several days to get the death certificate. People being reported as dead today got sick three weeks ago and died about a week ago. As an average, the daily rate is about 11. Rural: It is happening everywhere. Rural people have higher comorbidities and often are older.

Q: Have you ever done absentee voting?

Lee: I don’t recall voting absentee ever. If it was in college, I don’t remember.

Q: Turnout is a trickle today in Nashville and Memphis. With all the talk about absentee ballots, why didn’t the state make a big push to make it more accessible instead of fighting it?

Lee: You should talk to the secretary of state. We saw states using significant absentee voting that had many problems because of the massive increase. There are problems with whatever strategy you take. There have not been long lines. I think the secretary of state took a good approach.

Q: How can the outcome be good if it is slow?

Lee: He’s expecting 800,000 and with no big races like sheriff it will be lower.

Q: Hamilton County said yesterday there was exposure at the Lincoln Day Dinner where hundreds of people did not wear masks. How do you handle traveling? For Piercey, have there been outbreaks from political events?

Lee: I don’t travel as much as I have before nor attend as many events, but when I do, I do everything I can to be safe and safe to others. I distance and wear masks, and if I cannot, I generally am not there. I wear a mask most everywhere I go.

Piercey: I am not aware of any but the one you mentioned.

Q: You say you follow the CDC guidelines, but those say the entire class should be tested and quarantined, and your plan does not follow that. You said last week that is due to a lack of capacity, so how can we safely reopen?

Lee: We follow the guidelines as much as we safely can.

Q: If you do not have the ability to follow CDC guidelines, how can you say it’s safe?

Lee: The CDC also says in-person learning is important.

Q I’m talking about testing.

Lee: They give a number of guidelines.

Q for Piercey: You mention three days’ turnaround. What is the range, the outliers?

Piercey: That’s three days in the lab, not front and end time. That’s how we measure. The range is a half day to 7 to 9; we have heard longer but that’s not typical.

Q: The Legislature is studying the powers of the executive branch in emergencies. Have you spoken to them?

Lee Not about that.

Lee closing comment:

A mask is not required at a voting booth but is recommended. I appreciate the polling officials’ work.

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