Courthouse closes Monday for sanitizing in wake of positive test
The Anderson County Courthouse, located at 100 N. Main Street, will be closed Monday, March 23rd, after an employee in the University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension Office tested positive Sunday for the COVID-19 virus.
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank was notified of the positive diagnosis late Sunday afternoon. Monday’s closure only impacts the Courthouse and is not a full closure of county government operations. Other county government offices – for example, the Jolley Building, old DARC building, the Animal Shelter and the recycling center – will continue to operate with modifications in place, according to guidance from the CDC, Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Health. Please visit the www.anderson-county.com for up to date information on operations.
The one-day closure will give Anderson County’s Buildings and Grounds team time to disinfect the building more heavily than what is already being done.
According to Laura Clark, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and County Director, the Extension Office staff have been advised by the University of Tennessee to follow the Health Department’s advisory to self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure. The employee had last been in the Extension Office on March 16 and 17. Clark told Mayor Frank that the UT Extension Office, which is located in the Courthouse, will be closed and remain closed in conjunction with their quarantine.
Anderson County Health Department Director Charles Turner confirmed to Mayor Frank Sunday afternoon that the Health Department is in the process of notifying anyone who may have had contact with the employee.
“Closing the primary Courthouse building provides additional time for the Buildings and Grounds Department to thoroughly clean and disinfect according to CDC guidance,” Mayor Frank stated Sunday evening in a press release.
Anderson County Government offices have already implemented practices to limit person-to-person contact. Citizens have been advised to call ahead to ask if their business may be handled over the phone or electronically. Information related to what county government offices are doing to contain the spread of COVID-19, can be found online at www.anderson-county.com.
“As many of you know and are watching yourselves, changes surrounding COVID-19 are occurring daily, and sometimes hour to hour,” Mayor Frank stated. “I have been in touch with Human Resource and Risk Management Director Kim Jeffers-Whitaker, Buildings Director Roger Lloyd and Health Department Director Charles Turner regarding this notice of diagnosis and the subsequent plan to address. We are taking extra precautions.”
As information and guidance are coming in from state and local officials, changes will be made as necessary. Any further changes will be announced to the public as quickly as possible.