I look at the news every day starting early in the morning, several times a day with new announcements of the numbers of coronavirus cases. Often states even know the cities/communities in which the increases are discovered. But here in Tennessee, for some insane reason, we are only entrusted with mere "county" numbers. Why?

I know, I know, it's been said it's all due to HIPAA. Bull-hockey. Other states are under the same federal HIPAA law. Although they're not releasing names, at least they're indicating the community or city in which numbers may be increasing.

This is vital information for citizens to be aware of taking 'extra' personal precautions. Five incidents of covid-19 throughout a large county doesn't tell us anything. Is it safe to take a trip out for supplies we weren't able to procure two weeks before? Can we pick up a package at our post office, because our carrier doesn't care to deliver package mail? 

In this day it's difficult to feel as though we have any control over our lives and how to best help others in our community.Yet at least if we're armed with this information, instead of protected from it, we are empowered to anticipate missed work, instead of being caught unaware of unexpected banning of restaurants at midnight the very same night or restrictions placed upon visiting the senior center to help calm our neighbors and yes, often family.

The country was "protected" from this information on a need-to-know basis (insert except lobbyists or Wall Street investors) or high security clearance, when we could have began a process that would've thwarted such drastic, financially and medically crippling actions. And also last minute measures my community is enacting tonight, that not everyone will know about until morning. 

Not every senior citizen owns a smart phone and therefore an app that would receive these last minute announcements of shutting down every restaurant unless they have a drive-thru or curb-side service, the senior center, the one gym I think we might have, and other non-necessary venues. 

It if weren't for my daughter, I wouldn't have known that everyone is going crazy now over toilet paper again at Walmart, which I will not venture to travel. These last minute measures due to not knowing where the cases are located, is creating a greater problem. 

I'm fearful and I'm frustrated and I'm sick of both. 

Donna Akehurst