HAMILTON COUNTY, TN – The Health Department sadly reports the 30th COVID-19 death of a Hamilton County resident. The individual was a Black male in the 71-80 year age group and had underlying medical conditions.
“The Health Department sends its condolences to the family,” said Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes, “Each death further strengthens our resolve to work harder and continue to reinforce our message that wearing a mask, social distancing, and staying home if you are sick are our most important tools. The virus travels from person-to-person, so eliminating or reducing contact can prevent the virus from spreading in our community.”
Today’s announcement comes with the notice of an additional 56 positive cases, bringing the total number of active cases to 960, and the total cumulative cases since March 13 to 2,525.
The July Fourth holiday weekend brings opportunity for family and friends to celebrate our national holiday, yet it brings further occasion to spread the COVID-19 virus. The Health Department urges everyone attending or organizing such an event to have protocols in place to:
· If you are organizing an event, have masks available. Masks are available at the Health Department for pick up during hotline hours.
· Maintain social distance of 6 feet
· Wear masks when not eating
· Wash hands often and have hand sanitizer available
· Do not attend any functions if you have had any contact with a person known to be positive with COVID-19 or if you are sick with any respiratory symptoms
· Restrict attendance to as few people as possible.
Free Health Department testing opportunities are available each day this week through Friday from 7AM to 11AM at Brainerd High School. Health Department testing sites will be closed Saturday and Sunday for the holiday weekend and will resume testing the following week at East Lake Academy. Response to testing in our community continues to be robust. This past week, from Monday, June 22 through Sunday, June 28, the Health Department tested 2,817 individuals at the school and church testing sites at East Lake Academy, Hardy Elementary and Greater Tucker Baptist Church. The Health Department thanks the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga for funding the church testing sites. This Monday and Tuesday, the Health Department’s testing site at Brainerd High School processed a total of 923 tests in two days.