From Washington, D.C., to Chattanooga, Tennessee
The coverage of President Trump and the first lady’s COVID-19 diagnoses dominated the news this week and provided a stark reminder that the coronavirus can infect anyone. But on Thursday, the pandemic’s impact hit closer to home as the virus’s death toll in Hamilton County surpassed 100. Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes said in a news release, “These are not just numbers or statistics. Each one of these deaths represents a very real and painful loss to family and friends as well as to our community.”
Precautions such as masking and physical distancing are not a panacea. But when practiced and (better yet) combined, they really do give us significantly better odds of preventing more death, disease and hardship from this virus.
– Elizabeth Fite, health care reporter, efite@timesfreepress.com