Pigeon Forge Residents to Stay Home Except for Essential Needs

Pigeon Forge officials on Monday told residents to stay home, except for essential needs, to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Pigeon Forge COVID-19 advisory on Monday, March 23, 2020:

To Our Pigeon Forge Residents

After much consideration and input from our local, state and national health care officials, the Pigeon Forge City Mayor and City Commission have issued a Safe at Home Advisory for the City of Pigeon Forge. This is the next step in our ongoing efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. This decision is difficult because we understand the continued impact it will have on our citizens and our local businesses. However, this decision is necessary to save lives and reduce the burden on our local, regional and state health care system.

For the next 14 days and with extreme urgency, we ask all residents of our city to stay inside their homes, and immediately limit all movement outside of their homes beyond what is absolutely necessary to take care of essential needs.

Residents of Pigeon Forge are asked to stay inside their homes unless they are engaged in certain “essential activities” which are outlined below. On those occasions when you are out of your home for these necessary tasks, stay at least six feet away from others.

This means that you can: 

• Go to the grocery, convenience or warehouse store
• Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities
• Go to medical appointments (check with your doctor or provider first)
• Go to a restaurant for take-out, delivery or drive-thru
• Care for or support a friend or family member
• Take a walk, ride your bike, hike, jog and be in nature for exercise — just keep at least six feet between you and others.
• Walk your pets and take them to the veterinarian if necessary
• Help someone to get necessary supplies
• Receive deliveries from any business which delivers

The following essential services will remain open:

• Federal and state offices and services, including post offices and airports
• Essential City of Pigeon Forge government functions including law enforcement, transportation, and businesses that provide government programs and services
• Food and beverage: grocery and beverage stores, farmers markets, food banks, catering, convenience stores selling food, agriculture, food processing, feed mills, and other businesses that directly support the food supply
• Health care, mental and behavioral health, and biomedical research and businesses that directly support the healthcare industry including health information technology, staffing and supplies
• Sanitation and waste removal businesses and services
• Energy, water, and sewage businesses and services
• Pharmacies and medical supply businesses, and other businesses that directly support the drug and medical supply pipeline
• Vehicle fuel, support, service stations and businesses
• Banks, savings and loans, insurance companies, accounting businesses, and other business that directly support the insurance and financial services sector
• Legal and judicial services
• Laundromats/laundry/cleaning services
• Home and business repair, hardware supply
• Warehousing and storage
• Construction and facilities design businesses
• Product logistics, transport, and distribution businesses
• Parcel transportation and delivery businesses
• Veterinary and pet supply business and services including agricultural services and the caring and feeding of all livestock and farm animals
• Home and business cleaning and maintenance services
• All businesses which rely upon deliveries may continue, including florists
• Internet and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services)

In addition:

• Daycare and childcare business will remain open but will prioritize children of parents working in essential services.
• Lodging properties will remain open but must end entertainment or dining services in restaurants or group settings. Pick-up and room-service food services may continue.
• Essential services listed above may continue as long as appropriate distancing is physically possible and encouraged. These businesses will adhere to CDC guidance on social distancing and hand hygiene in the workplace, including encouraging work-from-home and allowing employees when possible to work on-site in shifts to optimize social distancing in the workplace.
• All essential services, especially grocery stores and pharmacies, will make best efforts to establish hours when only available to senior citizens or otherwise vulnerable populations.
• This does not apply to employees of government agencies working within the course and scope of their public service employment.
• Finally, some infrastructure and construction projects are also exempt, if workers are working on:
• Construction of commercial and institutional buildings, and residential buildings and housing
• Airport operations, food supply, concessions, and construction
• Water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil extraction and refining.
• Roads, highways, public transportation and rail.
• Solid waste collection and removal.
• Flood control and watershed protection.
• Internet and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services)
• And manufacturing and distribution companies deemed essential to the supply chains of the above industries

Sincerely,

David Wear, Mayor
Kevin McClure, Vice-Mayor
Tony Watts, Commissioner
Jay Ogle, Commissioner
Ken Maples, Commissioner