Dresden, Tenn.–With Weakley County’s positive COVID-19 cases spiking to 18, Dresden City buildings and parks will remain closed through May 15 and the closure order may be extended even longer if the local cases continue their upward spiral in Weakley County or do not meet the guidelines established for the easing of restrictions such as 14 continuous days of a decrease in the number of new coronavirus cases.
That is the word from Dresden Mayor Jeff Washburn.
He said further Dresden City Hall will continue to operate with closed doors until at least June 1 with citizens encouraged to either mail their water bills or place them in the drop box at the front entrance to city hall. For other city business, call Dresden City for information and directions.
The Dresden city-wide curfew likewise will also remain in effect with an amendment to the hours effective May 1. On that date, the curfew hours will be changed to 9;30 p.m. to 5 a.m. to reflect the later sunset and sunrise times. The curfew will be applicable to vehicular traffic, pedestrians walking upon the streets and sidewalks in the city, and use of all city owned facilities that are not otherwise closed. Exceptions to the curfew will be persons transiting by vehicles through the City of Dresden, individuals driving or walking to a place of employment or legitimate business activities, and persons enroute by vehicle to destinations outside the city.
The Walking Trail will remain open during daylight hours to pedestrian traffic, but persons using the trail are required to maintain a minimum of six foot separation and use of other social distancing guidelines published by the CDC.
The City of Dresden encourages our most vulnerable citizens, which includes persons 60 years of age and older, persons with cardiac or respiratory issues, diabetics, the obese, and persons with auto-immune disorders to shelter in place at home and limit social interactions with families and friends.
The State of Tennessee has begun to ease social distancing restrictions effective this week with the phase-in of the reopening of the State currently underway. However, the lifting of those restrictions does not mean Covid-19 has disappeared from the state. Contrarily, Covid-19 just last week had the biggest one day spike in new cases since social distancing policies were implemented. Weakley County’s total coronavirus confirmed cases grew from 8 to 18 last week.
With the lifting of restrictions, it is important that local citizens, and particularly those most vulnerable, exercise extreme caution to prevent infection with the virus, which can be deadly. The wearing of face masks and gloves is highly recommended.