Three things for October 5

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1. Hamilton County Mayor lifts COVID restrictions

RESTRICTIONS LIFTED: After months of strict rules placed on businesses to prevent COVID's spread, Hamilton County's Mayor removed the restrictions Wednesday. @SydEdwardsNews and @KimChapmanNC9 share details, and more on the county's existing mask mandate: https://t.co/2IHbtwm4Bb pic.twitter.com/xxXlHWikaA

— WTVC NewsChannel 9 (@newschannelnine) October 1, 2020

Last week, Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger lifted certain COVID-19 restrictions.

The order followed Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s signing of Executive Order 63, which lifted restrictions in 89 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. 

According to News Channel 9, businesses within Hamilton County can now “expand their operations and remove restrictions put in place earlier this year to help stop the spread of COVID-19.” 

Hamilton County businesses are free to continue enforcing the COVID-19 restrictions if they choose.

A mask mandate will remain in place in Hamilton Country until Oct. 6.

2. Storm Alex floods France, Italy

Storm Alex brings heavy rain and high winds to parts of UK https://t.co/wpKHnNSwKF

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) October 2, 2020

At least nine people have died, and up to 20 are still missing after a severe storm hit south-eastern France and north-western Italy.

The storm, named Alex, brought fierce winds, torrential rain and flooding on Sunday. 

According to AP News, French Prime Minister Jean Castex deployed the army and released emergency funds to aid those affected by the storm.

Several villages in France suffered severe damage from floods and landslides. Roads, bridges and homes were destroyed.

3. Trump taken to military hospital for COVID treatment, Biden tests negative 

After confirming his positive case of COVID-19 on Friday, President Trump was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington. 

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In this image from video, President Donald Trump waves as he drives past supporters gathered outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. Trump was admitted to the hospital after contracting COVID-19. (AP Photo/Carlos Vargas)

Over the weekend, Trump released multiple videos to reassure the public he is recovering. 

“It’s a very interesting journey. I learned a lot about COVID,” Trump said in a Twitter video posted on Sunday. 

According to AP News, Trump could be discharged from the hospital today. 

In the wake of Trump and First Lady Melania Trump’s positive cases, former Vice President Joe Biden confirmed he and his wife Jill have tested negative for COVID-19.