As the nation moves through the vaccination phases of the coronavirus pandemic, East Tennessee State University’s College of Public Health is hosting a second installment of its popular “Coronavirus: Separating
Tennessee reported a record 192 novel coronavirus-related (COVID-19) fatalities on Tuesday, putting the state on the precipice of a new monthly high for deaths.
Tennessee has reported 2,255 deaths since Jan. 1 â just 50 shy of Decemberâs record 2,305 deaths. Through 26 days in January, the state has averaged 86.7 deaths per day, far outpacing last monthâs 74.3 average.
If the monthly death record doesnât fall on Wednesday, it will likely fall on Thursday, as the state has only recorded fewer than 50 deaths over a two-day period twice in the past two months.
Northeast Tennessee is also likely to see its monthly death record fall, adding 21 virus-related deaths on Tuesday â tied for its third-highest single-day toll. It is the third time this month at least 20 deaths have been reported in the region.
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.