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Five things to know about COVID-19 in the Chattanooga region for the week ending Feb. 19

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Justin Freeman slips past Barbara Ellison in the kitchen car. The staff of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum spend hours preparing the many facets of its Valentine Dinner Train. All available seats for the two-hour train ride were filled, at 25 percent capacity because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Justin Freeman slips past Barbara Ellison in the kitchen car. The staff of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum spend hours preparing the many facets of its Valentine Dinner Train. All available seats for the two-hour train ride were filled, at 25 percent capacity because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Wyatt Massey February 19, 2021 4 min read

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. 19.

1. Hamilton County expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility: County moves in step with state, expands age range and adds teachers and related occupations.

Why it matters: The state announced Tuesday it would expand vaccine eligibility to people age 65 and older, as well as people in phase 1b. The new phase includes K-12 teaching staff and child care workers, among others. The move comes after weeks of pressure from teachers to make them eligible as in-person teaching happens more frequently. Expanding eligibility also means tens of thousands of new people can get in line in a system already burdened with high demand.