CHATTANOOGA AREA 5 things to know about COVID-19 this week
1Chattanooga nurses share what it’s like to treat COVID-19 patients: Three Erlanger nurses who treat patients with coronavirus talk about their experiences on the front lines.
Why it matters: A Chinese doctor — who was initially accused of spreading false information and later died from COVID-19 — was the first to raise alarm about a new coronavirus in December. Since then, front-line health care workers, including nurses and respiratory therapists, have continued to help shape our understanding of COVID-19. Because coronavirus patients must be cared for in strict isolation, most of the public is shielded from seeing the true gravity of the disease, and health care workers have been thrust into rolls that go far beyond mere patient care. Often, these workers are the only line of communication between critically ill patients and their loved ones, and they hold dying patients’ hands as they take their last breath. They also face a higher risk of becoming infected and must grapple with the possibility of not only getting sick and dying, but also of bringing the infection home to their families.
2More COVID-19 deaths in Hamilton County: In the past week, the health department has reported six deaths (between Saturday and Friday morning) related to the coronavirus, including the third death of someone without underlying health conditions.
Why it matters: Much is still unknown about what makes certain individuals more susceptible to fatal COVID19 infection. Although older adults with chronic conditions — such as heart disease and diabetes — are most at risk, no age, sex or race is immune. Health disparities also increase certain populations’ risk, and the disparities among minorities in Hamilton County have become increasingly apparent as the pandemic progresses. Hispanic residents, who make up 6% of the county’s population, account for 66% of the county’s coronavirus cases and now 32% of deaths. One of the new deaths reported was a probable death from March that was confirmed this month by the medical examiner.
3COVID-19 hospitalizations in Tennessee are on the rise: Statewide hospitalizations have increased by more than 30% since early June and hit an all-time high this week with over 400 coronavirus patients currently hospitalized as of Thursday.
Why it matters: COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state are on the rise and the worst is still to come, according to a study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center study released Tuesday. Vanderbilt researchers said the increase is driven largely by rising case numbers and hospitalizations in the Chattanooga and Memphis regions, both border cities. Hospitalizations are an important indicator of an outbreak’s severity, and officials say not overwhelming hospitals is key to successfully combating the pandemic. Although the state’s health systems have handled the volumes of COVID-19 patients so far, authors of the report said the noteworthy increase underscores how quickly hospitalizations can swell. Vanderbilt’s projections indicate that if case trends continue, the state may see days with 1,000 or more COVID-19 hospitalizations at the same time in July or August. That scenario assumes that 95% of cases are mild enough to avoid hospitalization, and that 0.7% of infected cases result in death.
4Chattanooga’s most at-risk communities remain hardest hit: While the virus has affected all populations in the county in recent weeks, data released by the health department shows Chattanooga’s most vulnerable communities continue to face the highest number of infections.
Why it matters: This month, the health department acknowledged the virus was spreading among businesses that are reopening. Despite the first public acknowledgment of community spread, data shows the virus is still disproportionately affecting Hispanic residents, as well as concentrating in one Chattanooga ZIP code. The 37407, which includes the Clifton Hills and East Lake neighborhoods, accounts for one in four COVID-19 cases and ranks 598th out of Tennessee’s 600 ZIP codes for health outcomes, according to a statewide study. Advocates say the cluster of cases underscores the need for more interventions that target underserved communities, such as temporary housing and wage replacement for infected people who need to isolate. Some of those impacted by the outbreak live in multi-generational homes with a single wage earner who was required to work throughout stay-athome orders.
5Whitfield County’s COVID-19 cases on the rise, averaging 17 new cases per day: The state health department in Georgia reported 668 COVID-19 cases in Whitfield County on Wednesday, more than double what the county had on May 29.
Why it matters: Across the region and nation, the novel coronavirus is affecting the Hispanic population disproportionately. While Hispanics make up about 34% of the population in Whitfield County, about 71% of the county’s cases as of Wednesday were among the Hispanic community. Georgia was one of the first states in the country to reopen certain businesses and was known to have the most aggressive plan to do so. Health officials in North Georgia said the rise in numbers is not tied to any specific event or location “but is due to continued general transmission in the community and increased testing,” and cases are on the upswing statewide. Georgia hit the 60,000-case mark on Wednesday, while the seven-day moving average is slightly up. Although an increase in cases can be attributed in part to more testing, continued spread ultimately means that the pandemic is far from controlled. Across the state, 2,575 people had died from the virus.
What are your experiences with the coronavirus? Are you or someone you love affected by it? What questions do you have? We would like to hear from you, so please contact efite@timesfreepress.com or wmassey@timesfreepress.com.