Newsroom

NASHVILLE – Despite the current spike in unemployment across Tennessee, March’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remains relatively unchanged, only increasing 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.5%. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development did not see an unprecedented increase in unemployment claims until the third and fourth weeks of March.

Tennessee New Unemployment Claims Filed for the week ending on April 11, 2020

Tennessee New Unemployment Claims Filed for the week ending on April 11, 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced free COVID-19 testing will be available for any Tennessean, regardless of traditional symptoms, as the Unified-Command group ramps up an aggressive effort to expand testing capacity across the state.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health will offer 33 drive-through events this weekend to make COVID-19 testing available to Tennesseans who are concerned about their health or the health of their family members.

Nashville, Tenn. -- Today, Governor Bill Lee announced the appointment of Butch Eley to serve as the Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration (F&A). Eley currently serves as Chief Operating Officer in the Governor’s Office and will continue to coordinate efforts between departments in the interim.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers are still raising livestock and planting and harvesting crops. At this time, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture sees no evidence of agricultural shortages in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is prepared to provide replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to families who suffered losses in Sunday’s severe weather event.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry is now accepting urban forestry tree planting project proposals through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP). The program encourages local governments to increase and enhance city tree populations.

NASHVILLE – The state of Tennessee has started paying approved unemployment claimants their first installment of the $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) benefit, in addition to their Tennessee Unemployment Compensation (TUC) benefit.

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, TDMHSAS is sharing public service announcements with broadcasters to increase awareness of its Statewide Crisis Line.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Correction has received results from the COVID-19 testing at two state facilities. The testing was conducted on Friday, April 10, at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville and the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex in Pikeville, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) and the Tennessee Department of Military.

ONLY – An inmate at the Turney Center Industrial Complex-Annex in Only has tested positive for COVID-19. On Tuesday, April 7, during one of the multiple proactive screenings at the facility, the inmate was shown to have a low-grade fever and was placed in quarantine.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Correction, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health will launch a proactive testing initiative to further ensure the safety of staff and inmates during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry is closing Lone Mountain State Forest until further notice to help slow the spread of COVID-19.