New Omicron Subvarient Likely In The Upper Cumberland
A new COVID Omicron subvarient called Kraken is most likely already in the Upper Cumberland. Nashville Metro Public Health confirmed its first case last week. Upper Cumberland Medical Society President Dr. Brent Staton said the subvarient is highly contagious but not necessarily more dangerous. “The likelihood of it not being here is pretty slim considering […]
CDC Lists Six UC Counties With High COVID Numbers
If you feel like you’ve heard more friends and neighbors contracting COVID in recent days, you are correct. The Centers for Disease Control reports Putnam, Clay, Jackson, Overton, Pickett and White Counties with high community COVID levels. The updated numbers released Thursday estimated 223 cases per 100,000 people in Putnam County. That number along with […]
Upper Cumberland Experiencing Spike In COVID Cases
The rising number of COVID cases across the Upper Cumberland is a reason for some to bring back personal precautions. Dr. Brent Staton is the Upper Cumberland Medical Society President. He said for the last six weeks, the region has seen very few cases. Staton said a spike has recently occurred. “The significance of this […]
Educators Working To Get Students Re-Engaged Post-COVID
Educators across the Upper Cumberland have expressed difficulty getting students reengaged with school after COVID. Jackson County High School Principal Jason Hardy said that he has seen signs of disengagement in his students. He said that faculty and staff made it a priority to get kids back to a routine this school year. “We know […]
Putnam COVID Testing And Vaccinations Moving Back To Health Department
COVID vaccinations and testing will move from the Putnam County Fairgrounds back to the County Health Department Wednesday. County Health Director Lisa Bumbalough said the department administers about 32 vaccinations a day, which can be accommodated at the County Services Drive office. “Our goal has been to transition back to the health department when we […]
Cookeville Regional Hoping To Implement More Normalized Visitation Policy
Cookeville Regional Medical Center beginning to return to normal operations following more than two years of COVID procedures. CEO Paul Korth said new policies will most likely be announced later this week “Case numbers are lower than usual, and as we’ve talked in the past it’s something that we look at every day and every […]
UCHRA No Longer Requiring Masks On Public Transportation
Changes to UCHRA public transportation’s COVID precautions were made Tuesday. “In accordance to the court ruling and the TSA no longer enforcing the federal mask mandate, face masks will no longer be required for our customers and staff members on our public transportation vehicles and facilities,” Transportation Director Holly Montooth said. Montooth said the decision […]
Omicron Subvariant BA2 Not Seeing Huge Surge In United States
After cases of BA2 began to spread widely across Europe, experts here expected to see a similar increase in cases. Bu that surge has not happened yet, according to Cookeville Regional Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Mark Pierce. “Now reasons for that, we aren’t really sure but I suspect it’s probably because so many people have […]
Putnam Heath Department Offering 2nd COVID Booster
The Putnam County Health Department is now offering the 2nd COVID booster shot at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. Director Lisa Bumbalough said the department has a “sufficient supply” of Pfizer shots. “The folks that are eligible for those are any adult 50 and older and any adult 18 and older who has an immunocompromised immune […]
White County Commissioners Will Consider COVID Bonus And Raise
White County Commissioners will consider a COVID bonus and a five percent raise for general county employees and the highway department at its next meeting. That the result of a budget committee vote Monday night. Committee member Stanley Neal made the motion. “There were some employees that wanted a bonus and wanted a bonus only […]
