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Gov. Bill Lee says surge came from Thanksgiving gatherings.
• 4 min read
Coronavirus explained
Early cases of COVID-19 are believed to be linked to a live-animal market in Wuhan, China.Kevin Fogarty/Reuters
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee had a grave message for his constituents Sunday: Avoid holiday gatherings and travel.
The state has become ground zero in the latest surge of coronavirus cases that are sweeping through the country, he noted.
Tennessee has recorded 65,382 new COVID-19 cases in the last seven days and leads the nation in cases per 100,000, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lee, who is quarantining after his wife tested positive for the virus over the weekend, said the rise in cases and hospitalizations was caused by Thanksgiving gatherings.
Frontline workers receive COVID-19 vaccine at Williamson Medical Center williamsonherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from williamsonherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Others are concerned about the side effects of the vaccine or have objections on religious grounds to receiving vaccinations. Still others, especially those in rural areas of the state, aren t sure when they will even have access to the vaccines a concern shared by rural hospitals and health care providers.
TEA plans to survey its own members in January about their feelings toward the vaccine. This month the organization surveyed members about their current working conditions ahead of the start of the legislative session in January.
Many students also aren t likely to get vaccinated
Whether many students will get the vaccine once it is available is also still up in the air.
MMC expects vaccine soon
Oakridger
As the COVID-19 cases are increasing and area hospitals are reportedly getting more patients, Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge is awaiting the “precious” vaccines.
“Methodist will be receiving vaccine doses any day now and we will be administering them in accordance with state and federal guidelines,” Crystal Jordan, hospital spokeswoman, stated in an email response to the newspaper s questions about the vaccine and patients on Wednesday. “Every dose is precious, and we are working with all of our Covenant Health sister facilities to provide these vaccines in the most efficient and organized way possible. This is something we have been eagerly awaiting and we are excited to begin this distribution to our caregivers, prioritizing those on our front lines. As always, ensuring the health of our team members, as well as our community, is our top priority.”