Tennessee will expand vaccine eligibility statewide to residents 65 and older and those in phase 1b of the state’s coronavirus vaccination plan beginning Monday.
Northeast Tennessee reported a net increase of 219 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections on Thursday, its most in nearly two weeks, causing its seven-day new case rate to increase for the second-consecutive day.
As of Thursday, the region was averaging 135.5 new cases per day over the last week, up from a low of 116.1 on Tuesday but still below last weekâs high of 160. Sullivan County reported the most new cases with 89, while Carter County (+51) was the only other to report more than 50 new cases. Case totals in Hancock and Johnson counties were reduced by one.
Thursdayâs new case increase caused active infections, which are still at their lowest point since October, to rise for the second time this month. The region has 1,333 active cases, an increase of 13 from Wednesday. Hawkins and Washington counties each reported active case increases of 11, the only counties in the region to see a double-digit rise in active cases. Johnson (-8), Sullivan (-3) and Unicoi (-2) cou
Ballad Health’s hospitalization numbers continue to plummet, with the system reporting 136 COVID-19 patients in its facilities on Friday — a drop of 24 and another three-month low.
Northeast Tennessee’s eight counties reported the fewest new COVID-19 infections in nearly three months on Thursday, with active infections and the region’s seven-day positive test rate also at three-month lows.