DeKalb Leads State in COVID-19 Infection Rate According to CAN Report

December 12, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County currently has the #1 COVID-19 infection rate among Tennessee counties (per capita) at 157.6 per 100,000 residents and the 89th highest infection rate per capita in the United States according to COVID Act Now (CAN).

COVID Act Now is an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides local-level disease intelligence and data analysis on the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. CAN provides open-source tools, a realtime U.S. COVID risk map by state and county, and information for pandemic response and assists partners ranging from local county health departments to multinational corporations in developing COVID response plans.

According to CAN, Tennessee and DeKalb County are currently experiencing a severe outbreak of COVID-19 and warns that all precautions should be taken to avoid exposure

(Click link below to view CAN report on DeKalb County)

https://www.covidactnow.org/us/tennessee-tn/county/de_kalb_county?

As of Friday, December 11 the Tennessee Department of Health reported a total of 23 new COVID-19 cases in DeKalb County bringing the total number of confirmed or probable cases to 1,493 since March.

Twenty five people with COVID 19 have died in DeKalb County within the last nine months and 34 have been hospitalized.

(Click Link Below for DeKalb County Report)
https://covid19.tn.gov/data/dashboards/?County=Dekalb

As of Friday, 1,235 DeKalb Countians are now considered recovered from the virus and 233 cases remain active. Friday’s 7 day average rate of positive tests is 25.1%.

Starting the week of December 21^st the DeKalb County Health Department will be changing COVID-19 testing times.  Testing will be only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am-12:30pm. The DeKalb Health Department will be closed December 24^th,25^th, 31^st, and January 1^st for the holidays.

What are the symptoms?

The CDC says patients confirmed to have the 2019-nCoV reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with:

•Cough
•Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Or at least two of the following symptoms:
•Fever
•Chills
•Repeated shaking with chills
•Muscle pain
•Headache
•Sore throat
•New loss of taste or smell
At this time, the CDC believes symptoms could appear as soon as two days after exposure, or as long as 14 days.

Prevention
The CDC is recommending “common sense” measures such as:
•Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
•Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
•Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
•Stay home when you are sick.
•Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
•Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
•Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

December 12, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Tigers returned to action Friday night after a 17 day layoff due to Covid-19 and defeated the visiting Watertown Purple Tigers 77 to 69 in Smithville.

The Tigers, who had not played since a 61-36 win over Bed Boiling Springs November 24, improve to 3-2 and are scheduled to travel to Upperman Tuesday night, December 15. The Tigers start the district race at 1-0.

In the game Friday night, DC trailed 28 to 21 after the 1st period but grabbed a 42 to 40 lead by halftime. The Tigers extended their lead 62 to 51 after the 3rd period and went on to claim a 77 to 69 victory.

Jordan Young scored 23 followed by Evan Jones 19, Elishah Ramos 16, Brayden Antoniak 8, Luke Jenkins 4, Stetson Agee 4, and Robert Wheeler with 3.

The Lady Tigers fell behind 15 to 9 in the 1st period and trailed 24 to 13 at halftime. Watertown led 42 to 31 after the 3rd period and went on to defeat the DC Lady Tigers 54 to 47.

Kadee Ferrell scored 15 followed by Ella VanVranken with 9, Madison Martin 8, Hannah Willingham and Cadee Griffith each with 5, Megan Cantrell 3, and Xharia Lyons with 2.

The Lady Tigers are 3-2 and start the district campaign at 0-1.

DCHS 2020-21 UPDATED SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, December 15: Upperman-Away – 6 p.m.
Friday, December 18: Livingston Academy-Away- 6 p.m.

Saturday, January 2: *York Institute-Away- 6 p.m.
Tuesday, January 5: Warren County-Home- 6 p.m.
Friday, January 8: *Cannon County-Away- 6 p.m.
Saturday, January 9: ^Sequatchie County-Away- 6 p.m.
Tuesday, January 12: *Upperman-Home- 6 p.m.
Friday, January 15: *Macon County-Away- 6 p.m.
Tuesday, January 19: *Smith County-Home- 6 p.m.
Friday, January 22: *York Institute- Home- 6 p.m.
Tuesday, January 26: *Livingston Academy- Home-6 p.m.
Friday, January 29: *Watertown- Away- 6 p.m.
Saturday, January 30: ^Grundy County-Home- 6 p.m.

Tuesday, February 2: *Cannon County-Home- 6 p.m.
Tuesday, February 9: *Macon County- Home- 6 p.m. (Senior Night)
Thursday, February 11: *Smith County- Away- 6 p.m.
Friday, February 12: Red Boiling Springs-Away-6 p.m.

December 11, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

A man barely escaped from his home during a fire early this morning (Friday).

Central dispatch (911) received a call at 2:24 a.m. of a fire at the home of Jimmy Evans located at the intersection of R. Arnold Road and New Bildad Road.

Evans was asleep on the couch and awoke to find his house on fire. He had to dart past the flames to escape and while Evans suffered no burns, the heat singed his hair on the way out the door. He was taken by DeKalb EMS to Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital where he was treated and released.

According to DeKalb Fire Chief Donny Green, Evans said he had been smoking prior to the fire and thought he had tossed the cigarette butt in a bathroom toilet before going to sleep on the couch. Instead, Evans now believes the cigarette missed the toilet and landed in a trash can causing the fire to start from there.

Members of the Belk, Keltonburg, Short Mountain Highway, and Main Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded along with the Sheriff’s Department and EMS.

Evans’ home was destroyed along with a car and other belongings.