Mt. Juliet Police Support Wearing a Mask or Face Covering as COVID-19 Cases Continue to rise, Officers Will Continue to Educate & Provide Masks to the Community

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. – The Mt. Juliet Police Department supports and encourages everyone to wear a mask or face covering as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. As an alternative to issuing a citation to those not in compliance with the Wilson County mask mandate, officers will continue to educate and provide masks to community members. The mask mandate order, issued by Wilson County Mayor Hutto, is active at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, 2020. “I want to see full compliance with Mayor Hutto’s order so we can contain the virus as soon as possible,” stated Police Chief James Hambrick. “From the onset of this pandemic, we have focused on educating our community about the importance of wearing a mask and taking personal safety precautions. We have obtained substantial compliance without charging business owners or community members. This model will continue, and we will issue face masks to those in need rather than issuing a citation.” Details on Wilson County’s Mask Mandate: https://www.mtjulietalpost281.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Wilson-County-Press-Release-Mask-Mandate-7_17_2020.pdf

Post 281 Members,

Your July Newsletter will have the details; which will be published soon, but for your advanced planning, you need to know that our July 14th meeting has been canceled due to the increase in COVID 19 cases we are experiencing in central Tennessee.   

We know you understand, so be smart, be safe, and protect your loved ones.

Your Commander Max Wix and the Post Executive Committee.   

For Immediate Release    

July 1, 2020

Tennessee Valley VA offers a mobile COVID-19 screening tool

Veterans can pre-screen for access from a mobile device.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) implemented an electronic COVID-19 screening tool at its Nashville and Alvin C. York campuses to expedite the entry process for Veterans with in-person appointments. 

Upon arrival for an appointment, Veterans can use a smartphone to scan a QR code. This brings up a web page which asks Veterans about potential COVID-19 symptoms and exposure.

Once the questions are answered, Veterans will see a screen that reads “OK to proceed” or “More screening needed” with a timestamp. Veterans then simply show their results to screeners for expedited access to the facility.

Veterans can also access the screening tool by texting “screen” to 53079. Patients who do not have smartphones can visit www.va.gov/covid19screening on a computer and print their results before traveling to TVHS. Pre-screening is an optional measure intended to expedite the in-person screening process and is not a requirement.

As a reminder, Veterans are required to wear a mask or face covering at TVHS facilities. Veterans who cannot wear or refuse to wear a mask should contact their health care provider to arrange a virtual alternative (e.g. VA Video Connect, tele-medicine).

For additional information on TVHS operational updates, visit www.facebook.com/VATVHS and www.tennesseevalley.va.gov.

TVHS is an integrated tertiary health care system comprised of two hospitals, the Alvin C. York Campus in Murfreesboro and the Nashville Campus, as well as more than a dozen community-based outpatient clinics located in Tennessee and Kentucky. TVHS provides ambulatory care, primary care, and secondary care in acute medicine and surgery, specialized tertiary care, transplant services, spinal cord injury outpatient care, and a full range of extended care and mental health services.

Hannah McDuffie

Public Affairs Specialist – TCF

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Tennessee Valley Healthcare System

Office: 615-225-4875 ext. 24875

VA mobile phone: 615-964-0308

Simple donations for Veterans in need, passed along from Department: 

My name is Joe Ferguson and Legion Member with the Murfreesboro post, I am a former Active Duty and OIF II Combat US Marine currently residing in the US Department of Veterans Affairs Alvin C. York VAMC (Murfreesboro, TN) – Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP). If you’re not familiar The mission of the Residential Rehabilitation Program (RRTP) is to provide high-quality residential rehabilitation and treatment services for Veterans with multiple medical conditions, mental illness, addiction, or psychosocial deficits.

What some of us have experienced in military service or combat are both physical and mental scars that we have attempted to be self-treated, a reason many of us are here currently.  I am very thankful for the opportunity to be in this treatment program for I truly believe it is a lifesaver. 

I’ve worked with Wendell Burnett and Bill Campbell in the past through employment services at the AJC (American Job Center).  I’m now in the rehab program and I am actually one of the few here that are financially stable, but several of these Veterans will be homeless once they leave the program.  With 10 Veterans currently in-house Groups, classes, one on one therapy and downtime are also part of the treatment.  

With July 4th coming up, We, the Veterans, in the program are asking your consideration in donating hygiene/care package type needs to our cause.  We are very limited in our ability to buy or obtain any products for ourselves due to the operation of the clinic, but civic groups, businesses, and individuals can donate goods and services. 

If interested in supporting with a donation please contact me directly and we can move forward from there.  

Semper Fi,

Joe Ferguson 

615-987-8799

                  Veterans Administration Services

Questions and procedures you can expect when visiting the VA.  

Based on my pre-appointment phone call the questions will be:

1. Do you have a fever of 100.4 or higher?
2. Do you have any unexplained coughs?
3. Have you been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19?
4. How do you feel today?

 Below are the general procedures.

1. The entrances are limited so be sure to look out for the signs directing you where to enter. It may different than you are used to. 
2. From your car, you’ll be asked a handful of questions about any symptoms you might be having.  This is to keep anyone who may be sick out of the facility.  Once you answer the questions, you’ll be given an armband and will need to wear it throughout your stay. 
3. We expect everyone in our facility to wear a mask.  If you don’t have one, the screener will provide you one when you arrive. 
4. We currently have a no visitor policy.  Only patients with a scheduled appointment are permitted in the facility.  If you have someone with you, they are welcome to wait in the car, but we want to be sure you know before you arrive that a visitor will not be able to come to the building with you.
5. Due to our limited waiting space, we ask you to not arrive any more than 30 minutes before your appointment.  You will not be able to park at Nashville until after 6 AM and York 7 AM so please do not arrive before those times. 

All the satellite clinics are closed and all services are being done at the main hospitals. 

Tom Buckton, Veteran Service Officer for Post 281