Flu or COVID? How Do You Know?
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) -- As it gets cooler outside and the leaves begin to change, many people will wake up some mornings feeling unwell. But with COVID still hanging around,…
DOWNLOAD INFORMATIONAL FLYERS FROM CDC:
CDC releases new social guidelines for COVID-19
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- On Thursday, the C-D-C released new safety and social guidelines for COVID-19. The agency no longer recommends maintaining a 6-foot distance from others but believes efforts should rather focus on reducing severe sickness from the…
Local doctor gives Covid update: why the BA.5 variant will lead to more 'long Covid'
The B-A 5 covid strain has been labeled as the most contagious variant so far by the C-D-C. Although the symptoms are reportedly more mild, health experts say this variant will lead…
New studies bolster theory coronavirus emerged from the wild
By LAURA UNGAR AP Science Writer Two new studies provide more evidence that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a Wuhan, China market where live animals were sold. This further bolsters the theory that the virus emerged from the wild rather…
Army announces penalty for Guard missing their Covid vaccines
(WDEF) - The Army announced on Friday on how they will deal with National Guard members who missed the Thursday deadline for a Covid vaccine. They will not "fire" them (exactly) as threatened. Instead, Guard members will not be allowed…
Army National Guard vaccine mandate deadline this week
WASHINGTON (AP) - Up to 40,000 Army National Guard soldiers haven't yet gotten the mandated COVID-19 vaccine. That's about 13% of the force. And as the deadline for shots nears, at least 14,000 of them have flatly refused and could…
Health Dept. now has Covid shots for 6 months to 4 year olds
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - The Hamilton County Health Department will begin administering the new Covid shots for young children next weekd. They have Pfizer Covid-19 shots for ages 6 months to 4 years old. They will have them at all Health…
Parents weigh in on if their toddler or baby should get COVID vaccine
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF)-The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved COVID vaccines for Americans younger than 5 years old to as young as 6 months. Pfizer's vaccine is a three-dose series, with the first two shots…
US opens COVID vaccine to little kids, shots begin next week
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. on Saturday opened COVID-19 vaccines to infants, toddlers and preschoolers. The shots will become available next week, expanding the nation’s vaccination campaign to children as young as 6 months. Advisers to the Centers for…
Chattanooga Zoo begins vaccinating "at-risk" animals
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) -- The Chattanooga Zoo, of course, prioritizes the health of its animals. Believe it or not, regarding the coronavirus, there are some animals that can contract it. While none at the zoo…
Chattanooga Zoo gives Covid vaccines to some animals
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Humans aren't the only ones getting COVID vaccines these days. The Chattanooga Zoo has now given ten doses to some of their animals. They have inoculated two Jaguars, a Northern White-Cheeked Gibbon and three chimps. Animal Care…
Here is where each Airline stands on requiring masks on flights now
Undated (WDEF) - After the ruling by a Federal Court in Florida on Monday, the travel industry is changing their mask requirements. Uber and Lyft are dropping their mask requirements for both drivers and passengers. Many airline passengers…
Chattanooga Airport, CARTA Buses Lift Mask Mandate
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - Following a Florida federal judge's ruling to strike down mask mandates on public transport, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport has announced that customers will no longer be required to wear masks. CHA's…
Airports deciding what to do after mask mandate ruling
UPDATE: Response from Chattanooga Metro Airport officials this evening. "There are no policy changes at the moment." _______ UPDATE: Officials with the TSA say they won't enforce the mask mandate after today's ruling. _______ ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (WDEF)…
Judge blocks Air Force discipline over vaccine objections
A federal judge in Ohio is blocking the military from disciplining a dozen U.S. Air Force officers who are asking for religious exemptions to the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine.
Man in Germany gets 90 COVID-19 shots to sell forged passes
BERLIN (AP) — A 60-year-old man allegedly had himself vaccinated against COVID-19 dozens of times in Germany in order to sell forged vaccination cards with real vaccine batch numbers to people not wanting to get vaccinated themselves. The man from…
COVID cases continue to drop
CLEVELAND, Tennessee (WDEF)- COVID cases continue to drop across Tennessee and Georgia but does that mean COVID is completely behind us? The latest COVID surge due to the Omicron variant has come and seemly passed, but COVID cases are still…
Local Doctor talks about 4th COVID booster
CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) - A second COVID booster shot has been approved by the FDA. The FDA approved an additional dose of the mRNA vaccine those 50 or older. That means that a second booster has some benefit for the immuno-compromised…
FDA OKs another Pfizer, Moderna COVID booster for 50 and up
Americans 50 and older can get a second COVID-19 booster if it’s been at least four months since their last vaccination, a chance at extra protection for the most vulnerable in case the coronavirus rebounds.
Moderna says its low-dose COVID shots work for kids under 6
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine works in babies, toddlers and preschoolers, the company announced Wednesday -- and if regulators agree it could mean a chance to finally start vaccinating the littlest kids by summer.
Connect With Ham. Co. Health Dept.:
- COVID-19 hotline: (423) 209-8383
- English Facebook page
- Spanish Facebook page
- Press Briefings
- COVID-19 Testing Calendar
CONÉCTESE CON EL DEPARTAMENTO DE SALUDDELCONDADO DE HAMILTON:
- Si tienepreguntassobre COVID-19 llame a la líneadirectaal 423-209-8383
- Facebook enespañol
- Sitios de pruebas
- Canal You Tube enespañol
North Georgia Health District:
Steps to Prevent Illness for Coronavirus COVID-19
Follow these steps to help prevent yourself and others from coronavirus COVID-19.