*** Positivity rate = 27% on 12/5/2020.
*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 23.3% as of 12/5/2020 *** (TN County Data Snapshot)
That's a 2.2% increase from a week ago.
Positivity rate preferred to be below 3%.

According to the Maryville, TN (Blount County) government reporting,

As of December 5, 2020, Blount County, TN, has reported
6,176 cases of the coronavirus.

There have been 685 new cases reported in the past week.

53,974 people have been tested in Blount County.
Thus, 11.4% of people tested have tested positive for the coronavirus.

3,080 people were tested for the coronavirus in the past week.

Blount County's positive COVID-19 cases increased by 12.5% in the past week, from 5,491 to 6176.
Blount County’s positive COVID-19 cases have risen from 106 cases on June 15 to 6,176 cases December 4.

There are approximately 133,000 people residing in Blount County, TN.
Thus, 40.6% of the people in Blount County have been tested for the coronavirus.
However, that may not be true. it is not known how tests are counted when a single person gets tested multiple times. Certain people in certain fields of work (medical, education, sports) or physical ability (nursing home residents, hospital patients) may get tested multiple times.

As of 12/4/2020:
There are 51 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized at Blount Memorial Hospital.
There are 8 COVID-19 patients currently in the ICU at Blount Memorial Hospital.
Blount Memorial Hospital currently has 9 available ICU beds.
As of Dec. 4, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has reduced the number of ICU beds from 21 to 17.
As of Nov. 20, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 19 to 21.
As of Nov. 13, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 16 to 19.
As of Oct. 30, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has reduced the number of ICU beds from 22 to 16.
As of Oct. 16, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 15 to 22.

As of 12/4/2020:
Sixty-five Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus.
Five of these deaths occurred in the past week of 11/28.

Be careful out there.
Wear a mask!

Someone set up a synchronized light show in the Springbrook neighborhood, Alcoa. It is at the corner of Wright Road and Alcoa Road. Tune your FM radio to 89.5 and enjoy the show.

They did a great job. We sat in the car and enjoyed the masterful light show and music.

Great job! Many thanks to the creator.

Some of this reporting period is based on data as of 11/25/2020 from the Maryville/Blount government, thus only shows 5 days of data. The remaining data as of 11/28/2020 is from the Maryville Daily Times newspaper.

*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 21.1% *** (TN County Data Snapshot)
That's a 1.7% decrease from a week ago.
Positivity rate preferred to be below 3%.

According to the Maryville, TN (Blount County) government reporting,

As of November 25, 2020, Blount County, TN, has reported
5,491 cases of the coronavirus.

There have been 591 new cases reported in the past week.

50,894 people have been tested in Blount County.
Thus, 10.5% of people tested have tested positive for the coronavirus.

2,327 people were tested for the coronavirus in the past week.

Blount County's positive COVID-19 cases increased by 12.1% in the past week, from 4,900 to 5,491.
Blount County’s positive COVID-19 cases have risen from 106 cases on June 15 to 5,491 cases November 28.

There are approximately 133,000 people residing in Blount County, TN.
Thus, 38.3% of the people in Blount County have been tested for the coronavirus.
However, that may not be true. it is not known how tests are counted when a single person gets tested multiple times. Certain people in certain fields of work (medical, education, sports) or physical ability (nursing home residents, hospital patients) may get tested multiple times.

As of 11/25/2020:
There are 52 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized at Blount Memorial Hospital.
There are 5 COVID-19 patients currently in the ICU at Blount Memorial Hospital.
Blount Memorial Hospital currently has 15 available ICU beds.
As of Nov. 20, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 19 to 21.
As of Nov. 13, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 16 to 19.
As of Oct. 30, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has reduced the number of ICU beds from 22 to 16.
As of Oct. 16, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 15 to 22.

As of 11/28/2020:
Sixty Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus.
Five of these deaths occurred in the past week of 11/20.

Be careful out there.
Wear a mask!

At the current rate, approximately 30 Blount County residents will die from the coronavirus in November.
A record number of Blount County residents tested positive for the coronavirus this week.

*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 22.8% *** (TN County Data Snapshot)
That's a 0.4% decrease from 2 weeks ago.
Positivity rate preferred to be below 3%.

According to the Maryville, TN (Blount County) government reporting,

As of November 20, 2020, Blount County, TN, has reported
4,900 cases of the coronavirus.

There have been 717 new cases reported in the past week.

48,567 people have been tested in Blount County.
Thus,10.1% of people tested have tested positive for the coronavirus.

3,265 people were tested for the coronavirus in the past week.

Blount County's positive COVID-19 cases increased by 17.1% in the past week, from 4,183 to 4,900.
Blount County’s positive COVID-19 cases have risen from 106 cases on June 15 to 4,900 cases November 20.

There are approximately 133,000 people residing in Blount County, TN.
Thus, 36.5% of the people in Blount County have been tested for the coronavirus.
However, that may not be true. it is not known how tests are counted when a single person gets tested multiple times. Certain people in certain fields of work (medical, education, sports) or physical ability (nursing home residents, hospital patients) may get tested multiple times.

There are 52 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized at Blount Memorial Hospital.
There are 6 COVID-19 patients currently in the ICU at Blount Memorial Hospital.
Blount Memorial Hospital currently has 15 available ICU beds.
As of Nov. 20, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 19 to 21.
As of Nov. 13, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 16 to 19.
As of Oct. 30, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has reduced the number of ICU beds from 22 to 16.
As of Oct. 16, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 15 to 22.

Fifty-five Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus.
Eight of these deaths occurred in the past week (11/13 to 11/20).

Be careful out there.
Wear a mask!

500 cases in 4 days, 170 cases in a single day (Nov. 18).

"The number of cases that we’re seeing in Blount County continues to increase at a more rapid rate than that of our state and nation,” BMH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Harold Naramore emailed. “We’re seeing that the virus is now spreading quickly among family members and other close contacts. As the weather cools and people are letting their guard down — and their masks — around family and close friends.”

Good grief. Why is it some people just don't get it?

Wear a mask, socially distance, don't congregate.

From the Maryville Daily Times newspaper,
"Maryville Junior High School's entire freshman class will be learning online through Thanksgiving, and Director Mike Winstead expects to make a decision today, Nov. 15, about a portion of the district’s sixth graders."

Nine students at the school tested positive, primarily ninth graders. 100 students subject to quarantine. The school district for Maryville Junior High School does not intend to require mask wearing as part of the enforceable dress code, the faculty and staff will make it clear it is a strongly encouraged and expected practice.

"In the past week the equivalent of two to three classrooms full of students have tested positive for COVID-19 in Blount County."
...
"Blount County Schools saw 35 new cases this week, 13 among staff members and 22 students."
...
"Alcoa City Schools reported seven new cases between Nov. 5 and Nov. 13, for a total of 31 this school year." ... "Since the beginning of this school year, Alcoa has reported 13 cases at its high school, nine at the elementary school, six at the intermediate school and three at the middle school." The counts are for students and staff, ACS does not separate counts.

The Maryville Daily Times also reports,

"Blount Memorial Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Harold Naramore said. “In fact, this week, Blount County’s month-over-month increase in cases is higher than the country’s increase and our state’s increase.”
...
"Tennessee Dept. of Health reported on Nov. 13 that 23 residents at Maryville nursing homes had tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 23 days."

Approximately 15 Blount County residents a month are dying from the coronavirus.
Approximately 1,100 Blount County residents test positive for the coronavirus each month.

*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 14.4%.*** (TN County Data Snapshot)
That's a 0.4% decrease from 2 weeks ago.
Positivity rate preferred to be below 3%.

According to the Maryville, TN (Blount County) government reporting,

As of November 13, 2020, Blount County, TN, has reported
4,183 cases of the coronavirus.

There have been 629 new cases reported in the past two weeks.

45,302 people have been tested in Blount County.
Thus, 9.2% of people tested have tested positive for the coronavirus.

4,322 people were tested for the coronavirus in the past two weeks.

Blount County's positive COVID-19 cases increased by 17.7% in the past two weeks, from 3,554 to 4,183.
Blount County’s positive COVID-19 cases have risen from 106 cases on June 15 to 4,183 cases November 13.

There are approximately 133,000 people residing in Blount County, TN.
Thus, 34.1% of the people in Blount County have been tested for the coronavirus.
However, that may not be true. it is not known how tests are counted when a single person gets tested multiple times. Certain people in certain fields of work (medical, education, sports) or physical ability (nursing home residents, hospital patients) may get tested multiple times.

There are 41 20 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized at Blount Memorial Hospital.
There are 8 5 COVID-19 patients currently in the ICU at Blount Memorial Hospital.
Blount Memorial Hospital currently has 11 available ICU beds.
As of Nov. 13, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 16 to 19.
As of Oct. 30, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has reduced the number of ICU beds from 22 to 16.
As of Oct. 16, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 15 to 22.

Forty-seven Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus.
Six of these deaths occurred in the past two weeks (10/30 to 11/13).

Be careful out there.
Wear a mask!

Approximately 10 Blount County residents a month are dying from the coronavirus.
Approximately 800 Blount County residents test positive for the coronavirus each month.

The past two weeks have had the highest death rate from Coronavirus since the pandemic began.

*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 14.8%.*** (TN County Data Snapshot)
That's a 3.4% increase from 2 weeks ago.
Positivity rate preferred to be below 3%.

According to the Maryville, TN (Blount County) government reporting,

As of October 30, 2020, Blount County, TN, has reported
3,554 cases of the coronavirus.

There have been 553 new cases reported in the past two weeks.

40,980 people have been tested in Blount County.
Thus, 8.7% of people tested have tested positive for the coronavirus.

4,740 people were tested for the coronavirus in the past two weeks.

Blount County's positive COVID-19 cases increased by 18.4% in the past two weeks, from 3,001 to 3,554.
Blount County’s positive COVID-19 cases have risen from 106 cases on June 15 to 3,554 cases October 30.

There are approximately 133,000 people residing in Blount County, TN.
Thus, 30.8% of the people in Blount County have been tested for the coronavirus.
However, that may not be true. it is not known how tests are counted when a single person gets tested multiple times. Certain people in certain fields of work (medical, education, sports) or physical ability (nursing home residents, hospital patients) may get tested multiple times.

There are 20 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized at Blount Memorial Hospital.
There are 5 COVID-19 patients currently in the ICU at Blount Memorial Hospital.
Blount Memorial Hospital currently has 11 available ICU beds.
As of Oct. 30, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has reduced the number of ICU beds from 22 to 16.
As of Oct. 16, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 15 to 22.

Forty-one Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus.
Ten of these deaths occurred in the past two weeks (10/17 thru 10/30).

Be careful out there.
Wear a mask!

Approximately 10 Blount County residents a month are dying from the coronavirus.
Approximately 800 Blount County residents test positive for the coronavirus each month.

Deaths are up.

*** 7-day average Positivity rate is 11.4%.*** (TN County Data Snapshot)
Positivity rate preferred to be below 5%.

According to the Maryville, TN (Blount County) government reporting,

As of October 16, 2020, Blount County, TN, has reported
3,001 cases of the coronavirus.

There have been 186 new cases reported in the past week.

36,240 people have been tested in Blount County.
Thus, 8.3% of people tested have tested positive for the coronavirus.

1,745 people were tested for the coronavirus in the past 7 days.

Blount County's positive COVID-19 cases increased by 7.1% in the past week, from 2,815 to 3,001.
Blount County’s positive COVID-19 cases have risen from 106 cases on June 15 to 3,001 cases October 16.

There are approximately 133,000 people residing in Blount County, TN.
Thus, 27.2% of the people in Blount County have been tested for the coronavirus.
However, that may not be true. it is not known how tests are counted when a single person gets tested multiple times. Certain people in certain fields of work (medical, education, sports) or physical ability (nursing home residents, hospital patients) may get tested multiple times.

There are 19 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized at Blount Memorial Hospital.
There are 6 COVID-19 patients currently in the ICU at Blount Memorial Hospital.
Blount Memorial Hospital currently has 16 available ICU beds.
As of Oct. 16, 2020, It appears Blount Memorial Hospital has upped the number of ICU beds from 15 to 22.

Thirty-one Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus.
Three of these deaths occurred in the past week (10/9 thru 10/16).

Be careful out there.
Wear a mask!

Early voting starts today for the Nov. 3 general election. Links:

• General info
• Times and locations
• Sample ballot

Note: Democrat Patti Young is running for Tennessee Senate District 2 as a write-in candidate. She is not listed on the ballot but you can use the write-in option to vote for her.

Approximately 10 Blount County residents a month dying from the coronavirus.
Approximately 800 Blount County residents test positive for the coronavirus each month.

Deaths up.
Hospitalizations up.

According to the Maryville, TN (Blount County) government reporting,

As of October 9, 2020, Blount County, TN, has reported
2,815 cases of the coronavirus.

There have been 186 new cases reported in the past week.

34,495 people have been tested in Blount County.
Thus, 8.2% of people tested have tested positive for the coronavirus.

2,278 people were tested for the coronavirus in the past 7 days.

Blount County's positive COVID-19 cases increased by 7.1% in the past week, from 2,629 to 2,815.
Blount County’s positive COVID-19 cases have risen from 106 cases on June 15 to 2,815 cases October 2.

There are approximately 133,000 people residing in Blount County, TN.
Thus, 24.2% of the people in Blount County have been tested for the coronavirus.
However, that may not be true. it is not known how tests are counted when a single person gets tested multiple times. Certain people in certain fields of work (medical, education, sports) or physical ability (nursing home residents, hospital patients) may get tested multiple times.

There are 18 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized at Blount Memorial Hospital.
There are 6 COVID-19 patients currently in the ICU at Blount Memorial Hospital.
Blount Memorial Hospital currently has 9 available ICU beds.

Twenty-eight Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus.
One of these deaths occurred in the past week (10/2 thru 10/9).

Be careful out there.
Wear a mask!

The good citizens of the Blount County Democratic Party got together and put up a billboard for the 2020 presidential election.

Great job, people.

It appears to be on Alcoa Highway at Maloney Road, across from the Sevier Heights Church.

Deaths up.
Hospitalizations up.
ICU bed usage up.
Tests given down.

According to the Maryville, TN (Blount County) government reporting,

As of October 2, 2020, Blount County, TN, has reported
2,629 cases of the coronavirus.

There have been 122 new cases reported in the past week.

32,217 people have been tested in Blount County.
Thus, 8.2% of people tested have tested positive for the coronavirus.

1,673 people were tested for the coronavirus in the past 7 days.

Blount County's positive COVID-19 cases increased by 4.9% in the past week, from 2,507 to 2,629.
Blount County’s positive COVID-19 cases have risen from 106 cases on June 15 to 2,629 cases October 2.

There are approximately 133,000 people residing in Blount County, TN.
Thus, 24.2% of the people in Blount County have been tested for the coronavirus.
However, that may not be true. it is not known how tests are counted when a single person gets tested multiple times. Certain people in certain fields of work (medical, education, sports) or physical ability (nursing home residents, hospital patients) may get tested multiple times.

There are 15 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized at Blount Memorial Hospital.
There are 6 COVID-19 patients currently in the ICU at Blount Memorial Hospital.
Blount Memorial Hospital currently has 11 available ICU beds.

Twenty-seven Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus.
Three of these deaths occurred in the past week (9/25 thru 10/2).

Be careful out there.
Wear a mask!

Our City of Alcoa Property taxes are due Sept. 30, 2020.
I mailed our tax payment in plenty of time.
The envelope was postmarked Sept. 16, 2020.

Yesterday, Sept. 29, 2020, I received a returned envelope from the USPS saying the envelope was undeliverable.

Return to Sender
No receptacle
Unable to forward

I double checked the address and zip code. All was okay.

If the USPS cannot find the City of Alcoa Municipal Building, then how are they going to find where to send the election ballots.

UPDATE: I went in person to pay my taxes. The City of Alcoa has the entrance to their building closed. They have no notice as to where to go if you need to speak with anyone. They do have a little drop box where you can put your property tax payment.
I spoke with two women who work at the City of Alcoa. They blamed it on the post office because there was a new postal delivery person. Doesn't seem to me to be a problem of the post office. If the City of Alcoa cannot communicate where the mail is supposed to be delivered the post office cannot deliver mail.
Sheesh.
The City of Alcoa employees said they would not be charging late fees. Who knows how long they will allow for late payments. It took nearly two weeks for my payment to finally get to them, since it took a while for it to be returned to me by the post office.

According to the Maryville, TN (Blount County) government reporting,
As of September 25, 2020, Blount County, TN, has reported
2,507 cases of the coronavirus.

There have been 118 new cases reported in the past week.

30,544 people have been tested in Blount County.
Thus, 8.2% of people tested have tested positive for the coronavirus.

1,754 people were tested for the coronavirus in the past 7 days.

Blount County's positive COVID-19 cases increased by 4% in the past week, from 2,411 to 2,507.
Blount County’s positive COVID-19 cases have risen from 106 cases on June 15 to 2,507 cases September 25.

There are approximately 133,000 people residing in Blount County, TN.
Thus, 23.0% of the people in Blount County have been tested for the coronavirus.
However, that may not be true. it is not known how tests are counted when a single person gets tested multiple times. Certain people in certain fields of work (medical, education, sports) or physical ability (nursing home residents, hospital patients) may get tested multiple times.

There are 8 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized at Blount Memorial Hospital.
There are 4 COVID-19 patients currently in the ICU at Blount Memorial Hospital.
Blount Memorial Hospital currently has 13 available ICU beds.

Twenty-four Blount County residents have died from the coronavirus.
One of these deaths occurred in the past week (9/18 thru 9/25).

Three deaths occurred in the early months of the pandemic.
Three deaths occurred in the week of 7/12/2020.
One death occurred in the week of 7/19/2020.
Four deaths occurred in the week of 8/1/2020.
Four deaths occurred in the two weeks from 8/9 to 8/21/2020.
Two deaths occurred in the week of 8/22/2020.
Zero deaths occurred in the week of 8/28/2020.
Two deaths occurred in the week of 9/4/2020.
Four deaths occurred in the week of 9/11/2020.
One death occurred in the week of 9/18/2020.

Be careful out there.
Wear a mask!