Board of Health
The former Knox County Board of Health, which was established under the Knox County Charter has been dissolved and reconstituted into an advisory board. Please click here to view the Health Department’s current Protective measures. The members of the previous Knox County Board of Health can be found here.
The former Knox County Board of Health rules can be found here.
Meeting Announcements/Agenda
* Meeting Minutes were added once approved by the Board of Health.
In accordance with the Safer at Home Order and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s Executive Order No. 60, regarding the coronavirus, and to ensure the safety of the public and all involved, Knox County Board of Health meetings were held electronically via Zoom streaming. The meetings will be available to the public via Knox County’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/knoxcountytn, Community Television, or the Knox County livestream website at stream.knoxcountytn.gov. Video recordings of the meetings were archived on the following page: https://covid.knoxcountytn.gov/media-briefings.html.
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The Knox County Board of Health will meet via Zoom on Wednesday, March 17, at 5 p.m.
Click here for the agenda.
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The Knox County Board of Health will meet via Zoom on Wednesday, January 13, at 5 p.m.
Click here for the agenda.
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Public forum will be held via Zoom during Wednesday’s Board of Health meeting. Thirty minutes will be allotted for public forum at the beginning of the meeting. A total of ten speakers will be permitted to speak for a maximum of three minutes. To register for public forum, call the Knox County Mayor’s Office at 865-215-2005 and provide the necessary information.
Click here for the agenda.
Click here for minutes.
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Public forum will be held via Zoom during this Board of Health meeting. Thirty minutes will be allotted for public forum at the beginning of the meeting. A total of ten speakers will be permitted to speak for a maximum of three minutes.
To register for public forum, call the Knox County Mayor’s Office at 865-215-2005, on Monday (11/9) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and provide the necessary information.
Click here to review the drafted ‘Potential Metrics’ presentation that Dr. Buchanan will present at the Nov. 10 meeting.
Click here for the agenda.
Click here for minutes.
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Tennessee Pulse Survey PowerPoint (presented by Dr. Katie Cahill, Associate Director, Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy)
Click here for the agenda.
Click here for minutes.
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Public forum will be held via Zoom at this meeting. To register for public forum, call the Knox County Mayor’s Office at 865-215-2005 and provide the necessary information.
Click here for the agenda.
Click here for the minutes
Potential Items for Discussion:
- UT Medical Center, Knoxville Data Update
- Shared with board members on October 7, 2020 by Dr. James Shamiyeh
- UT Medical Center, Knoxville Data Update
Board of Health Presentations
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Click the following links for presentations that will be discussed at the Board of Health meeting:
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Click the following links for presentation update from University of TN Medical Center:
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Click the following links for presentations that will be discussed at the Board of Health meeting:
Education Institutions Presentations -
Click the following links for presentations that will be discussed at the Board of Health meeting:
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Click the following links for presentations that will be discussed at the Board of Health meeting:
Education Institutions Presentations
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Click the following links for presentations that will be discussed at the Board of Health meeting:
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Click the following links for presentations that will be discussed at the Board of Health meeting:
Education Institutions Presentations
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Click the following links for presentations that will be discussed at the Board of Health meeting:
Education Institutions Presentations
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Click the following links for presentations that will be discussed at the Board of Health meeting:
Education Institutions Presentations
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Click the following links for presentations that will be discussed at the Board of Health meeting:
University of Tennessee Medical Center Knoxville Data UpdateEducation Institutions Presentations
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Click the following links for presentations that will be discussed at the Board of Health meeting:
University of Tennessee Medical Center Knoxville Data Update -
Click the following links for presentations that will be discussed at the Board of Health meeting:
Education Institutions Presentation
University of Tennessee Medical Center Knoxville Data Update
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UT Medical Center, Knoxville Data Update
- Shared with board members on November 25, 2020, by Dr. James Shamiyeh
Former Board of Health Regulations and Resolutions
- COVID-19 Restaurant Occupancy Limitation and Early Closure (Regulation No. 2021-3) * Effective until April 22, 2021
- COVID-19 Risk Reduction Guidelines (Resolution No. 2020-A)
- COVID-19 Face Covering (Regulation No. 2020-1)
- Request for Gov. Lee to Issue statewide mask mandate. (Resolution 2020-B)
- Safer at Home and Business Guidance (Resolution 2020-C)
- Condemning Threats or Use of Violence (Resolution 2020-D)
Decisions from the Board of Health
The Board of Health was responsible for making policy decisions for Knox County as it related to public health. The information below details the overall decisions/orders that the Board of Health has made during the pandemic.
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Restaurant Occupancy Limitation and Early Closure, 2021-2
- This regulation was set to expire on March 18, 2021. The BOH voted to sunset Regulation 2021-2 in order to add event centers to the regulation and extend the curfew time from 12 AM to 1 AM. Regulation No. 2021-2 (Restaurant Occupancy Limitation and Early Closure) will end March 18, 2021. Regulation 2021-3 will reflect the same language of the Regulation 2021-2 with the addition of the event centers and the extension of the curfew time to 1 AM. Regulation 2021-3 will be set to expire on April 22.
COVID-19 Social Gathering Limitation Regulation, No. 2020-8
- This regulation will expire March 18, 2021. The BOH did not extend this order.
* The next BOH meeting is Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
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The Board voted to extend the following regulations:
- Restaurant Occupancy Limitation and Early Closure, No. 2021-1
This regulation was set to expire on March 4, 2021. The BOH voted to sunset this order in order to extend the closure time for bars/restaurants from 11 PM to 12 AM. Regulation No. 2021-2 (Restaurant Occupancy Limitation and Early Closure) will go effect 2/26 and expire on March 18, 2021. Please note the language of the Regulation is the same except for the curfew time. - COVID-19 Social Gathering Limitation Regulation, No. 2020-8
This regulation was set to expire on March 4, 2021. The BOH voted to extend this order until March 18, 2021.
* The next BOH meeting is Wednesday, March 17, 2021.
- Restaurant Occupancy Limitation and Early Closure, No. 2021-1
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The Board voted to extend the following regulations:
- Regulation 2021-1 COVID-19 Restaurant Occupancy and Early Closure until March 4, 2021.
- Regulation 2020-8 Social Gathering Limitation Regulation until March 4, 2021.
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Regulation 2020-7- COVID-19 Restaurant Occupancy Limitation and Early Closure was terminated to create a new regulation.
The Board voted to extend the curfew time from the current 10 pm to 11 pm. To do this, the Board's legal counsel advised that they would have to terminate 2020-7 and create a new regulation. Regulation 2021-1: Restaurant Occupancy Limitation and Early Closure will go into effect on 1-29-21 at 12:00 AM and expire on 2-18-21. The language in 2021-1 is exactly the same as 2020-7 with the only change being the curfew time (from 10 pm to 11 pm).
Regulation 2020-8 - COVID-19 Social Gathering Limitation was also extended until 2-18-2021.
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Regulation 2020-8 - COVID-19 Social Gathering Limitation was also extended until 2-4-2021.
A speaker at public forum requested that the Board pass a resolution condemning death threats that were made against Knox County Commission in relation to the Board of Health. Of note, Knox County Board of Health members have also received threats from the public. The Board discussed this request during "Other Business" on the agenda and they agreed to pass Resolution 2020-D - Condemning Threats or Use of Violence.
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The Board of Health voted (8-1) to extend Regulation 2020-7: (Restaurant Occupancy Limitation and Early Closure) and Regulation 2020-8 (COVID-19 Social Gathering Limitation) until January 21, 2021.
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The Board of Health voted to adopt Resolution 2020-B, asking Gov. Lee to institute a statewide mask mandate. The BOH voted (9-1) in favor of Resolution 2020-B.
The BOH voted to adopt Resolution 2020-C (Safer at Home and Business Guidance). The BOH unanimously voted in favor of this resolution. This resolution outlines recommendations for our community given our increasing COVID-19 case counts.
The Board of Health voted to extend Regulation 2020-7 (COVID-19 Restaurant Occupancy Limitation and Early Closure Regulation). Regulation 2020-7 went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on November 25, and will remain in effect until 12:01 a.m. on January 6, 2021, unless extended by the Board of Health.
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The Board of Health voted to adopt Regulation 2020-8 (COVID-19 Social Gathering Limitation) Regulation 2020-8 goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on December 4, and will remain in effect until 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2020, unless extended by the Board of Health.
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The Board of Health voted to adopt Regulation 2020-7 (COVID-19 Restaurant Occupancy Limitation and Early Closure Regulation) which replaces 2020-5. The Board also voted to adopt Resolution 2020-A (COVID-19 Risk Reduction Guidelines). Regulation 2020-7 goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on November 25, and will remain in effect until 12:01 a.m. on December 23, 2020, unless extended by the Board of Health.
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The Knox County Board of Health voted to adopt metrics to assist in COVID-19 mitigation discussions. These metrics detail how positivity rate, new cases and hospitalization data can be used as a guide to discuss recession or escalation of regulations.
The Board of Health also voted 8-1 in favor of extending regulation 2020-5 (Curfew Regarding the Sale or Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in Certain Establishments). Regulation 2020-5 has a new expiration date of November 30, unless further extended by the board.
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The Knox County Board of Health voted 9-1 in favor of extending regulation 2020-5 (Curfew Regarding the Sale or Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in Certain Establishments). Regulation 2020-5 has a new expiration date of 11:59 pm on November 12. Regulation 2020-6 (COVID-19 Social Group Transmission Regulation) was allowed to expire.
Due to Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, the Board of Health will next meet on Tuesday, November 10 at 5 p.m. Public Forum is scheduled for the November 10 meeting. -
The Board of Health voted to extend the following two regulations for two weeks: The “Curfew Regarding the Sale of Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in Certain Establishments” regulation and the “COVID-19 Social Group Transmission Suppression Regulation”.
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The Board of Health voted to extend two regulations: The “Curfew Regarding the Sale of Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in Certain Establishments” regulation and the “COVID-19 Social Group Transmission Suppression Regulation”. Both regulations were extended until October 15 at 12:01 a.m.
The Board of Health also voted to move their meetings to every other week. The next Board of Health meeting will be Wednesday, October 14 at 5 p.m.
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During their September 16 meeting, the Knox County Board of Health voted to pass two regulations. The "Curfew Regarding the Sale or Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in Certain Establishments" regulation can be found here.
In addition, the Board of Health passed the "COVID-19 Social Group Transmission Suppression Regulation.” Both regulations go into effect September 18, at 12:01 a.m. and shall remain in effect until 12:01 a.m. October 1, and may be extended by the Board of Health.
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The Knox County Board of Health voted unanimously to pass a recommendation that encourages limiting social gatherings indoors to 25 or fewer people per 900 square feet. This recommendation encourages individuals to maintain six-feet of distance, which is one of the Five Core Actions.
The Knox County Board of Health also voted to approve a set of rules. Those rules can be found here.
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The Knox County Board of Health voted to extend the regulation cited as the Revised COVID-19 Suppression in Bars Regulation for another two weeks. To read the full regulation, click here.
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The Knox County Board of Health voted to extend the regulation cited as the Revised COVID-19 Suppression in Bars Regulation for another two weeks. To read the full regulation, click here.
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The Knox County Board of Health voted to issue a regulation cited as the Revised COVID-19 Suppression in Bars Regulation. To read the full regulation, click here. The order is slated to go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on August 3, 2020. It shall remain in effect until 12:01 a.m. on August 20, 2020 and may be extended by the Board of Health if indicated by the current data. This regulation replaces the previous regulation passed on July 29, 2020.
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The Knox County Board of Health voted to issue a regulation titled the COVID-19 Suppression in Bars Regulation. To read the full regulation, click here. The order is slated to go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on August 3, 2020. It shall remain in effect until 12:01 a.m. on August 20, 2020 and may be extended by the Board of Health if indicated by the current data.
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The Knox County Board of Health voted to issue a regulation titled the COVID-19 Community Education Recommendation. To read the full regulation, click here.
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The Knox County Board of Health voted to issue an order requiring community members to wear face coverings in most public, indoor spaces. The order is slated to go into effect July 3 and will be assessed at each Board of Health meeting moving forward. Children under 12 years of age and those with certain medical conditions are exempt. Places of worship, public schools as well as state and federal government facilities are excluded. The intent of the order is to increase face covering usage and slow the spread of COVID-19. The Board discussed enforcement at the meeting and agreed the intent is to issue warnings and, if possible, provide a face mask to those who do not have one. The full text of the order is available here.
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On June 17, 2020, the Knox County Board of Health voted to adopt Governor Lee's Tennessee Pledge guidance effective July 1, 2020. For more information regarding the Tennessee Pledge, click here.
Metrics for COVID-19 Mitigation Policy
Proposed Metrics for COVID-19 Mitigation Policy: Escalation and Recession