PICTURED: The shelves at several local grocery stores were nearly bare over the weekend as Collierville residents prepare to hunker down for the COVID-19 virus.
Local, state and federal governments are working to limit the public’s exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
Schools, public events, court systems, etc. have been closed for the foreseeable future in an effort to prevent further contamination of the virus.
Gov. Bill Lee issued a statement on Monday regarding the pandemic.
“The latest guidance from both the CDC and the Department of Health requires us to take unprecedented action,” he said. “In the best interests of public health, we have jointly decided to limit all remaining legislative business to fulfilling our constitutional requirement of passing a balanced budget, and any associated actions that will ensure Tennessee can keep its doors open. This is a serious time for our state and country, and we all must make adjustments in response to this threat.”
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms to discuss whether you should be evaluated in person and considered for testing.
If you are symptomatic but don’t have a health care provider, you can call your county health department and be referred to a clinic for evaluation.
The public health lab is prioritizing symptomatic people with travel to high-risk areas, and those with contact to a laboratory-confirmed case or who are critically ill with no alternative diagnosis.If your provider decides to test you, your samples can be collected at most health care facilities, then sent to the state laboratory for analysis.
If you don’t meet priority criteria, you can consider using a commercial laboratory.Tests performed by the state lab have to be approved by the Tennessee Department of Health. Private labs do not require approval.Results from the state lab should be available within 24 to 48 hours.
Turnaround time can be affected by demand.The Tennessee Department of Health has a coronavirus website with updated information on the number of cases in the state, and guidance on travel and community events.
Call the department’s COVID-19 public information hotline at 877.857.2945 for more information about the virus. It is available daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Current Closures
• All six municipal school district, including Collierville, are closed through March 27. Classes will tentatively resume March 30.
• Collierville water customers are being asked to limit their in-person interaction when paying utility bills.
“We are not restricting at this point,” Casey said. “We are also not going to suspend water services for nonpayment until the COVID situation improves.” The town is offering the following solutions regarding payment.
Bank Bill PayMost banks offer this at no charge to their customers. Log on to your electronic banking site, set up the Town of Collierville as a vendor, and ask your bank to send the Town a check. This comes to the Town electronically, keeping everyone safe – you, your bankers and Town staff.
Bank DraftYou can sign up to have your bill drafted from your bank account on the bill’s due date. This is offered at no charge to Town residents. The form can be found on the Finance Department page of collierville.com. (Residents should continue to pay until your bill reflects the bank draft is in effect.)
OnlineVisit secure.utilityflex.com/collierville. There is a convenience fee charged by the third-party provider for this service.
Check or Money OrderPay your utility bill by mail or at one of the Town’s drop box locations.
• By mail: Town of Collierville, 500 Poplar View Parkway, Collierville, TN, 38017
• 24-hour drop boxes: Town Hall, Collierville Library, Community Center on Powell Road, Washington Street (near the Collierville Food Pantry)
Drive-Thru WindowThe drive-thru window on the north side of Town Hall will be open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting Wednesday, March 18 to accept utility payments.We encourage residents to pay utility bills through these methods instead of in-person and cash transactions to ensure everyone’s safety.The town will continue to send out disconnect notices but have suspended disconnecting service for nonpayment; this will be revisited as the situation improves.The Finance Department will continue to assist residents with other accommodations as needed.
• There are no in-person proceedings at Collierville Municipal Court from March 13 – March 31. If you have a scheduled court date during this time frame, call 901.457.2580 to reschedule.
• Collierville’s Lucius E. and Elsie C. Burch, Jr. Library announced Tuesday that it will be closed until further notice. Meredeth Campbell, who is part of Adult Services at the library, said online resources like Hoopla, Tennessee Reads and RB Digital will remain accessible. For more information, go to colliervillelibrary.org/resources/online-resources.• The Collierville Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department announced that there are no organized youth sports or recreational programs from March 13-23.
• The Morton Museum of Collierville History announced that there are no programs until April.
• In response to the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and recent actions taken by the Tennessee Supreme Court, Germantown Municipal Court will canceling all court sessions scheduled for March 18 and March 25.
If you are scheduled to appear in court during either one of the above mentioned days, please contact the Germantown Court Clerk’s office at 901.757.7212 to reschedule your court date.The Court Clerk’s office will remain open during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The office will still be able to provide other needed information, as well as accept payments.
For convenience and to utilize social distancing practices as outlined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), payments can be made online at www.municipalonlinepayments.com/germantowntn or by phone at 1.833.257.8351.
