More people died of suicide in a single Tennessee county last week than of the coronavirus across the entire state, according to one local official.
Knox County Regional Forensic Center examined nine suspected suicides in under 48 hours last week, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs said, according to the Tennessee Star.
“Is what we are doing now really the best approach? How can we respond to COVID-19 in a way that keeps our economy intact, keeps people employed, and empowers our people with a feeling of hope and optimism, not desperation and despair?” Jacobs asked.
State Department of Health data shows six people have died of the coronavirus in Tennessee as of Sunday morning.
“Thus far, our reaction to COVID-19 has been to sacrifice the global economy,” Jacobs said. “The truth is: a sick economy produces sick people.”
The U.S. economy has been severely slowed by the rapid spread of the virus, which has led to the shuttering of millions of restaurants, bars, and other nonessential businesses across the country.
Trump’s unity speech doesn’t sway SALT or Freedom Caucus Republicans at the Capitol
Inside Trump’s urgent meeting with House GOP to pass the ‘big, beautiful bill’
Trump supporters find unlikely common ground with blue state congressman at town hall: ‘I love it’
Jail Employee Arrested in Connection with Escape of 10 Dangerous Inmates
Taiwan to strengthen defenses in preparation for escalations as China goes awol on peace talks
Senior DOJ Official Suggests Criminal Charges for Jill Biden After Latest Revelations
Khamenei doubts US nuclear talks will succeed as enrichment question persists
Maryland’s first Black governor blocks reparations bill, disappointing fellow Democrats
Chuck Schumer Attempts to Thwart Trump’s Air Force One Plan with Senate Move
Sparks expected to fly at high-stakes House hearing on threats against ICE
Chicago Mayor Under Federal Investigation After Saying He Hires Blacks Because ‘We Are the Most Generous People on the Planet’
Trump approval surges to 55% after Middle East victories
Indiana executes man who killed police officer in 2000
Mexican Government Furious Over YouTube Star MrBeast’s Visit to Mayan Ruins, Files Lawsuit
WaPo Gets Right to Work Covering for Biden, Calls Questions About Cancer Diagnosis ‘Conspiracy Theories’
A record 3.3 million U.S. citizens made unemployment claims earlier in March, reported the Labor Department last week.
Several localities in Tennessee have issued “safe at home” orders, and Republican Gov. Bill Lee has said he is not ruling out the possibility of a statewide lockdown similar to those in New York and California.
Earlier this week, President Trump predicted a rise in suicide rates across the country if the U.S. economy continues to slide.
“You have tremendous responsibility. We have jobs. We have … people get tremendous anxiety and depression, and you have suicides over things like this when you have terrible economies. You have death probably in far greater numbers than the numbers we are talking about with regard to the virus,” Trump said.
Trump has pledged to get the U.S. economy up and running again in a matter of weeks, saying he is hopeful federal health guidelines and restrictions could be loosened by as early as Easter, April 12.
Story cited here.
