EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was last updated on Aug. 5.

The Hamilton County Health Department reported 80 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total number of people to test positive for the virus since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,749.

The total number of people to succumb to the virus was 49.

Click on the link below for statewide statistics:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/tennessee-coronavirus-cases.html

On Wednesday the number of active cases across the county stood at 1,131. The health department reported that 4,569 people in the county have now recovered from COVID-19.

The health department reported a total of 100 people hospitalized suffering from the virus, or “persons under investigation” who are hospitalized. Forty people are now in intensive care, the most since the health department began charting the patients. 

Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger announced in a press conference several weeks ago that wearing masks will now be mandatory, effective Friday, July 10 at 12:00 a.m. The mandatory order, officials said, came as a result of an increase in cases and hospitalizations. The order will expire on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Defying the mask mandate is a Class C Misdemeanor, punishable by a $50 fine or up to 30 days in jail. Sheriff Jim Hammond released a statement on Tuesday saying that it was not his goal for his deputies to actively seek violators. He would leave enforcement to the discretion of his deputies.

Free face coverings will be available for pick-up at the health department’s E. 3rd Street offices. Tubs of face coverings are located at both circle entrances, officials said.

For the official Executive Order click on the link below: http://health.hamiltontn.org/AllServices/Coronavirus(COVID-19)/Orders.aspx

The “hot spot” map was not available on Wednesday. Tuesday’s “hot spot” map showed East Ridge with a total of 448 cases, trailing only East Brainerd (797) and East Lake (677) in the number of total cases since the beginning of the pandemic.

Of the more than 5,700 positive cases, more than 1,900 of those diagnosed were Hispanic, accounting for 34 percent of those testing positive. East Ridge has an Hispanic population that accounts for about 12 percent of the 21,000 people living here.

Click on the link below for complete health department case data as of Aug. 5: http://health.hamiltontn.org/AllServices/Coronavirus(COVID-19).aspx