Hamilton County COVID testing, data

Hamilton County COVID testing, data

Now at 11.

Positive covid-19 cases continue to climb in hamilton county.

Today adds 40 new positive tests.

We take a look at the data and the focus officials put on testing... in our top local story.

The first covid-19 case in hamilton county was reported in march.

The total positive test now is 487.

Hamilton county health administrator becky barnes: "the pandemic is not over.

The more you stay at home avoiding as many outings as possible, the safer you are."

There are two kinds of covid-19 tests: viral and antibody.

While both are tests, they are not the same.

Antibody testing uses antibodies to determine if you may have ever had the virus, but didn't know it.

Viral testing tells you if you currently have the virus.

Hamilton county health administrator becky barnes says they will review guidance on how the state wants them to report antibody tests.

Hamilton county health administrator becky barnes: "they're not reported on any of our things on our website."

Over 8-thousand people have been tested for the virus in hamilton county.

Officials are trying to reach out to minority communities a community foundation of chattanooga grant is helping expand testing.

The testing will be in african american communities every weekend starting june 6- th.

Community health services director bill ulmer: "we're going to be arranging transportation to these sites so that everybody who wants to get to these sites will have the opportunity to do that."

Community health services director bill ulmer: "we're just going to be sure that we see everybody who wants to be seen who wants to be tested and we're on to our website, wdef- dot-com.