The Tennessee Department of Health on Thursday confirmed the diagnosis of the first cases of the highly contagious U.K. novel coronavirus variant, one of at least 21 states to report cases of the variant since it was first detected in the U.S. last month.
Health Department spokesman Bill Christian originally said five cases of the B.1.1.7 strain had been identified in the state but, in a later email, he corrected that number and said two were confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of Thursday. A total of seven specimens have been sent to the CDC for confirmation. Christian did not say where the new strain had been detected, and a follow-up email was not immediately returned.
Ballad Health on Tuesday announced it will provide the Northeast Regional Health Office with nearly 1,000 doses of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine as supply issues plague local health departments.
Five of the regionâs seven health departments reported having no available vaccine Tuesday. According to data from the Tennessee Department of Health, only Greene and Washington counties have some vaccine available, though supplies are limited.
Sullivan County, which operates its own health department, ran out of supply on Tuesday and will not be vaccinating at the remote vaccination site at the Bristol Dragway Wednesday. Second-dose vaccinations will be available at the Kingsport Civic Center Auditorium starting Wednesday.
Like most people around the world, Edward Wyatt hasnât been able to live a normal life since the pandemic began.
At age 75, Wyatt is at high risk for a serious or fatal novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, so when Tennessee altered its vaccine plan to allow those 75 and older to receive the vaccine, Wyatt jumped at the opportunity.
There was just one issue: Supply.
Because vaccine supplies have been limited, Wyatt hasnât been able to schedule an appointment for his first dose of the vaccine, and hasnât been able to get answers as to when he might be able to.
In the midst of a brutal surge in novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections thatâs marked Tennessee as the state with the nationâs worst outbreak, Tuesday was a welcome day of hope and joy for several of Washington Countyâs first responders and officials at the Northeast Regional Health Office.
Inside the health office, six first responders from five police, fire and EMS agencies in Washington County became some of the first in the region to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine â a âhistoric eventâ that local health officials have been preparing for for months.
âI am so pleased you are here to document some of the first COVID-19 vaccinations being given in our public health region,â said Regional Director Rebekah English. âWe are honored to share this historic event with you.â
Ballad Health reported a record 335 people hospitalized with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Monday, along with a marked rise in critical care patients.
Mondayâs inpatient count was up 27 from Sunday, the second-highest single-day increase the hospital system has reported during the pandemic. It took the number of hospitalized patients past the previous record of 328 reported on Friday.
The number of critical care patients (those in intensive care or on ventilators) also rose after back-to-back days of decline, with 64 (+7) people in intensive care and 44 (+7) on ventilators. The record for ICU patients is 74 reported on Dec. 15 and 16, while the record for patients on ventilators is 46 reported on the 15th and 18th.