Task force team providing aid to Tupelo businesses affected by pandemic

The task force team is pushing for the public to wear masks and is helping local businesses stay afloat during the pandemic.

Numbers reported lee county now has over 6500 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began... in tupelo, a task force is working with businesses and throughout the city to help.

Wtva's chelsea brown is live with what the task force is doing the pandemic.

Here in tupelo many businesses have taken a hit because of the coronavirus.

Most businesses are open but with limitations.

I spoke with the vice chairman of the reopen tupelo committe about how they have helped businesses.

."

Right now, our goal is to keep tupelo open, our hospital is at capacity, and so we definitely want to save lives."

Dr. marcus britton is among dozens of others working on the tupelo task force.

The task force includes business owners and medical professionals.

Right now the task force is pushing for more people to wear masks where ever they go.

"wearing a mask is simply, it is effective, just being a good citizen and protect people" they also help businesses, mainly reasturants, get the help they need.

They also help businesses, mainly reasturants, get the help they need.

"in the beginning it was kinda getting businesses the funds they needed."

Earlier this year the task force set up computers at the bancorp south arena for businesses to apply for those small business loans.

Dr. britton says he hopes the newest stimulus bill in congress now will be able to help.

"able to get more money to businesses through that, and off course we will be there to help" when the pandemic is over and we go back to how life was before restrictions, the city and task force members hope to help businesses that have been hurt by heavily promoting them to get customers in their doors.

Live in tupelo, chelsea brown, wtva 9 news the federal reserve