Every week, the Times Free Press will publish five essential things to know about the coronavirus pandemic in the Chattanooga region. For more updated case count numbers and other data related to Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, visit timesfreepress.com/virus.
Five things to know about COVID-19 in the Chattanooga region for the week ending Feb. 12.
1. Hamilton County’s COVID-19 vaccine demographics do not match census data: Experts say there are ways to ensure equity.
Why it matters: The vaccine is becoming more widely available with the Hamilton County Health Department announcing a third vaccination site this week. We are also getting a better sense of who is receiving the doses as more demographic data is released. However, an expert from Johns Hopkins University said comparing that data to U.S. Census data about who lives in the county may not be the best measurement when discussing equity since only a small subset of the county population is currently eligible for doses.
Read more about the new vaccination site and what can be done to ensure equity in distribution.
2. UTC begins randomly testing students and staff for COVID-19
Why it matters: Citing research that around half of coronavirus cases can occur without symptoms, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga director of health services is rolling out a program to randomly test 1,000 students, faculty and staff members each week. Participants are selected through a computer-generated formula that accounts for a larger proportion of students compared to staff.
Read more about the testing rollout at the downtown university.
3. COVID-19 vaccination rate for Hamilton County care facility staff remains unknown: Nationwide, low rates remain a problem.
Why it matters: Lower than expected vaccination rates among long-term care facility staff are an ongoing concern and a blemish in the otherwise hopeful nationwide rollout of doses to the most vulnerable populations. The rate among facility staff in Hamilton County remains unknown as the Tennessee Department of Health has so far declined requests to make such data public.
Read more about the potential issues surrounding vaccine uptake with this population of caregivers.
4. Hamilton County Education Association petition seeks teacher vaccinations: Teachers could otherwise be weeks away from receiving doses.
Why it matters: At least 275 local educators have signed a petition to expand eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to include teachers. Under the current statewide vaccination plan, teachers would become eligible to receive doses in the next phase, which could still be weeks away. The president of the local teachers union said some educators are crossing county and state lines to get shots where they can, so Hamilton County should offer doses here.
Read more about the push from teachers to expand vaccine eligibility.
5. Volunteers return to Chattanooga hospitals after 11 months away: A critical health care workforce returns.
Why it matters: Last week, CHI Memorial Hospital began welcoming back some of its roughly 400 active volunteers thanks to the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines. “The night I got my first vaccination, the volunteers were almost in tears – we’re so happy that we can have the vaccination, that we can look forward to going back and being a part of this hospital,” one volunteer said.
Read more about what hospital volunteers said as they returned to their posts.
What are your experiences with the coronavirus? Are you or someone you love affected by it? What questions do you have? We would like to hear from you, so please contact efite@timesfreepress.com or wmassey@timesfreepress.com.