";s:4:"text";s:6316:" “We are approaching this phased reopening with that in mind, as we balance our responsibility to protect park resources and the health and safety of everyone.”Park managers are implementing new safety measures in facility operations and services to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as areas reopen to the public. “We are still collecting data from the tests performed during the original mandate, and I do not feel that we have enough information to end the order. On Apple devices that is a standard functionality. All City facilities will be heavily sanitized during the phased reopening.The City has purchased foggers to help with sanitizing and disinfecting facilities and will regularly clean facilities to help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
However, officials request to limit those outside trips to keep from becoming infected.Essential businesses, as defined by the state, include food and beverage stores, healthcare facilities, pharmacies, service stations, banks, legal services, laundromats, home and business repair, warehouses and storage, construction and facilities design, government offices, logistics and distribution, delivery services, veterinary and pet supply businesses, home and business cleaning and other businesses and services.The mayors and city managers of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Pittman Center, Sevier County and Sevierville thank everyone who has complied with local governments’ requests to keep our county and cities as safe as possible. The unemployment process will take a minimum of 30 minutes. The City of Gatlinburg plans to return to in-person meetings as soon as possible.Members of the Gatlinburg City Commission approved a partial closure of the Parkway from Traffic Light No. The online payments made to the City through the third party include a nominal fee to develop, maintain and enhance the online services. City officials have also requested that only essential businesses and services remain open during this time.According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the virus is highly infections and spreads easily via person-to-person contact, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects. Staff will wear masks and gloves when interacting with the public and the public will be allowed to access computers for 30 minutes at a time, with social distancing practices applied. The park typically has more than one million visitors each month, May through October, from across the country. Working together, we will show resiliency to rise above this situation quickly and show everyone that we will always be, mountain tough.”The site was originally developed to provide information and assistance to the citizens of Sevier County after the wildfires of 2016.Mayor Waters, Gatlinburg City Manager Cindy Cameron Ogle, Pigeon Forge City Manager Earlene Teaster, Sevierville City Manager Russell Treadway and Pittman Center City Manager Michael Borders, along with the city mayors, authorized the Sevier County Economic Development Council to re-launch the site.“This website, managed by IMEG, is designed to provide the most updated information and to point our citizens to the appropriate websites or agencies that will provide them assistance during this very difficult time,” said Allen Newton, Executive Director of the SCEDC.The Gatlinburg Community Center is closed until further notice.