Some members of the Hamilton County Commission are calling for citizens to be more vigilant in COVID-19 prevention as cases and deaths continue to rise.
On Wednesday, several commissioners used their announcement period to urge residents to get tested and wear masks to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
"Hamilton Countians have got to respect this virus, and realize it is a killer. It ain't gonna go away," Commissioner Warren Mackey said, calling on County Mayor Jim Coppinger, who is deliberating whether to mandate masks in public places, to push citizens to do just that.
"I'm expecting the mayor is going to advise everybody to wear the mask. That's one of the easiest things we can do to help protect ourselves, and not only ourselves but our neighbors as well," Mackey said. "If we don't, our economy is going to suffer, kids won't be able to go to school and all other kind of negative fallout will come."
(READ MORE: To wear or not to wear: Differences on masks come out in the open for Chattanoogans)
Mackey's sentiment was echoed by the mayor, who called it "extremely important" for citizens to wear masks.
"What we're finding in testing is some people that are not presenting any symptoms whatsoever are still positive, and they still shed the virus," Coppinger added. "So it's extremely important to wear a mask to protect others from you."
Chairman Randy Fairbanks also encouraged people to wear masks after the reality of this virus was highlighted for him recently by several people he knows contracting the virus.
"Me and my family friend have probably been pretty diligent wearing our masks and stuff like that, but my wife kind of panicked last night," Fairbanks said of their family learning that three people they know, including their pastor and his wife, are ill with the virus. "We had a quick family meeting, and the point she made was, sometimes it's easier to get lax when it's not people you know, and it's other people, other places. But when your friends and close people to you start getting it, and it's another wake up call."
Contact Sarah Grace Taylor at staylor@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6416. Follow her on Twitter @_sarahgtaylor.