It seems like the coronavirus is spreading faster and faster. At the beginning of April, the virus reached 200 countries and the number of cases topped one million. In the two short weeks since then, the number of cases has almost doubled and the virus seemingly isn’t slowing down.
But there is some good news as well. More than 500,000 have recovered since the beginning of the pandemic, tests that give you results in mere minutes have been developed, and a potential vaccine has already been tested on human subjects.
That’s what’s new on a global scale, however, how are things going locally?
How Are Things Looking In Tennessee?
As of this writing, the state of Tennessee has more than 5,600 COVID-19 cases with more than 100 casualties. In total, almost 1,700 people have recovered from it and more than 76,000 people have been tested so far. You can see the numbers, county-by-county on the News Channel 5 website.
Predictably, the outbreak hurt many walks of life. COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the world of business globally, and Tennessee is no different. The state has seen a 1,300% spike in unemployment claims as many companies got rid of hundreds of employees in the past month.
But things are not all bad. There is, in fact, some good news in the state of Tennessee after all.
Those lightning-quick tests we mentioned in the opening paragraph are not available to Tennessee citizens yet unfortunately. The CDC has sent out the rapid Abbot tests, which allow medical workers to test people in a matter of minutes. The test will give negative results in about 13 minutes and positive tests in 5 or less.
Even though many are struggling to find new work during the outbreak, a number of large corporations stepped in to help the Tennessee community. Home Depot, Dollar General, Walmart, Amazon, and many others have been looking to hire several thousand workers by the end of May.
How the Food and Beverage Companies are Helping
Multi-national, multi-billion corporations aren’t the only ones helping people in Tennessee. As expected, much local food and beverage companies have come forth to help their fellow men and give back to the community that helped them become what they are today.
1. Restaurant Suppliers are Directly Selling Food and Pantry Items
Like many other businesses, grocery stores around the country have been working shorter shifts and some have even closed down due to the virus. However, dozens of restaurants out there are now starting to offer groceries to fill in that spot. For instance, Café Roze turned into a bodega store.
But not only that, restaurant suppliers have even started delivering food items to regular shoppers. You have places like Bare Bones and Porter Road, which are selling butcher boxes filled with seasoned meat. Other suppliers are selling produce, seasoning, and even rare, exotic spices.
2. Jack Daniel's Now Produces “Jack Daniel's Sanitizers”
Jack Daniel’s is the biggest commercial brand ever to come out of Tennessee. The company has a global reach and despite the outbreak, its sales have been relatively steady for the past few months. The pandemic hasn’t stopped the company from helping out their community in an interesting way.
A shortage of hand sanitizer has forced government officials to start importing sanitation products. Since hand sanitizers contain a lot of alcohol, Jack Daniel’s saw an opportunity to step in and help. A few days ago, the brand announced they will be producing 20 million bottles of their hand sanitizer.
3. Cracker Barrel Provides Easter Meals to Medical Workers
Most people around the world didn’t get to celebrate Easter as they planned this year. Especially people who are still out there doing their civic duties, despite the coronavirus. Medical workers had it the worst. They were spending Easter far from their families trying to help others.
Cracker Barrel, the famous Tennessee restaurant chain provided more than 300 hot meals for medical workers on Easter Sunday. As company officials said to the local news, the community that has supported them for years is the same one the medical professionals are working to keep safe.
What Can You Do to Help Your Local Businesses?
Since local businesses are doing their job and giving back to the community is there anything you can do for them? After all, many businesses are going through a hard time, so they definitely need all the support they can get. Here are a few things you can do to help your local companies.
1. Donate to Restaurant Fundraisers
As a response to the current state of affairs, independent restaurant owners, professional chefs, and hourly workers formed a coalition called Tennessee Action for Hospitality. Their aim is to provide relief to industry workers left without jobs. You can donate to the coalition and support the ones in need.
2. Order Takeout to Keep Restaurants in Business
You can still order a fantastic meal from your favorite restaurant. This way, you’ll not only eat your favorite food during the outbreak but also help people stay in business. Here’s a list of restaurants the Nashville area that offers takeout. Most of them allow you to pay online to avoid personal contact.
3. Buy Restaurant Merchandise
In addition to meal delivery, some Tennessee restaurants still have their websites up and running. There, you can purchase everything from mugs and bags, to caps and shirts. Buying something modest won’t cost you much but it will mean a whole lot to the small business.
Stay Safe and Support Your Local Businesses
People and local businesses need to provide mutual support to each other in times of crisis. Since we’re going through the biggest pandemic in modern times, the time is now. Make sure to use the services of your local restaurants, to support them financially, and they’ll give back.
We hope you found our article thoughtful and interesting. Share your thoughts in the comment section.
