J’ville changes COVID-19 case reporting policy

Jacksonville city officials have decided to start informing its citizenry of any confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) within its city limits for the duration of the pandemic.

Jacksonville’s City Council met Tuesday, April 14, in its very first livestreamed meeting. All councilmen were present at the meeting and strategically seated, to observe the six-foot social distancing recommendation.

During the Council’s open forum portion of the meeting -- held during each meeting to allow council members to discuss items not included on the agenda -- Councilman Jeff Smith urged his fellow council members to change the city’s practice of not releasing the locations of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

“We need to inform our residents if there are any COVID-19 cases in the city limits,” he said.

Mayor Randy Gorham informed the Council, “I have checked with our Emergency Management Team and with our city manager and the city has decided to notify our residents with a press release if a COVID-19 case is located within the city limits from this point forward. At the present time (Tuesday, April 14), we have eight cases in Cherokee County and we’re telling our residents tonight, case number seven is located in the city of Jacksonville.

“If a new case is in Cherokee County, but not within the city limits, we will have no comment.”

Since the Jacksonville Council met, county officials have confirmed a total 10 cases of COVID-19 in Cherokee County.

“Our Emergency Management team will continue to monitor the situation with our partners,” City Manager Greg Smith said. “We will continue to improve the way we communicate with our residents and will work with Cherokee County Public Health Department on a press release if there are additional COVID-19 cases in the city limits.

“We had some technical difficulties at first, and it has truly been a team-effort to overcome them. When we return to normal is uncertain and will continue to follow state policies in this regard.”

Councilman Tim McRae added, “Notifying the public about COVID-19 cases in our city limits is a good thing.

“While I think we are doing the right things to control the spread, we need to be cognizant that our communication does not provide a false sense of security to where our residents stop taking the proper precautions.

“This is a real virus and we need to continue those efforts.”