1| Moore County holds steady at three cases. On April 22, Moore County got its third confirmed COVID-19 case but has not added an additional case since. That’s 30 days without a new case. According to local officials, all three local cases have recovered and are doing well.

2| There are now cases in all Tennessee counties. On Wednesday, the state health department reported the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Hancock County. This mean there are now at least one confirmed case in all 95 counties.

3| Restaurant, retail increase capacity. On Friday, updated guidelines for restaurants and retail stores went into effect by allowing them to operate at full capacity. Attractions and large non-contact venues can now re-open with appropriate social distancing and capacity restrictions. Under the new guidance, bars should remain closed unless used for seated, in-restaurant dining.

4| Free child care for essential workers extended. This week, Tennessee also extended free pandemic child care for essential workers until mid-August. At the same time they also expanded the categories of essential workers – allowing more workers to qualify. Those working in the financial, religious, utility and hotel industries, among others can now qualify.

5| State unemployment claims now highest in state history. According to new numbers released on Thursday, Tennessee’s preliminary, seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate is now 14.7 percent. There have been 532,580 new unemployment claims filed in the state of Tennessee between March 15 and May 16, according to the TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

{The Lynchburg Times is the only independently owned and operated newspaper in Lynchburg. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}