With 98 cases and 11 deaths, Hamilton County health officials are awaiting the uncertain arrival of the peak of local coronavirus cases.
At a news conference about the virus on Thursday, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department officials announced an additional case and an additional death of an adult resident with underlying conditions and asked locals to maintain social distancing for the foreseeable future, including during this weekend's religious holidays.
With many locals on their third and fourth weeks of social distancing, creating more residual social, religious and financial fallout for the community, the county warns that the peak and end of the local outbreak will likely take place after that statewide.
"Because we have seen COVID disease enter our community somewhat later than it has other areas of the state, we anticipate that we will reach our peak somewhat later than the rest of the state," communications chief Tammy Burke said. "As far as when that will be, I don't have information on when that will be."
The most recent modeling by the Institute of Health Metric Evaluation suggests that Tennessee will hit its peak of 25 deaths per day on April 18.
On an optimistic note, data released by the county Thursday shows that while cases continue to climb, nearly two-thirds of the total known patients in the county have recovered from the virus.
If you need testing or further information on the virus in Hamilton County, contact the health department hotline at 423-209-8383.
Contact Sarah Grace Taylor at staylor@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6416. Follow her on Twitter @_sarahgtaylor.