The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department announces the activation of its Coronavirus (COVID-19) information hotline call center to provide up-to-date, reliable, and accurate information to the public. The hotline is not only for individuals with concerns or questions, but also organizations can receive specific guidance in the sectors of businesses, schools and daycares, nursing homes, the faith-based community, restaurants, and colleges and universities. Calls from organizations will be routed to a specialist in that specific sector.

“We know the public has concerns about the Coronavirus situation and we share those concerns,” says Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes, “We urge everyone to take actions now to keep themselves and their communities safe by following CDC recommendations. To minimize the disruptions and impact to the community, we encourage businesses and community organizations to review their respective plans.” 

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) hot line telephone number is (423) 209-8383. The call center will be available 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Callers can expect reliable information about the situation in our community, the disease, and how they can protect themselves.

Responding to the Coronavirus situation will require a communitywide effort from all agencies, organizations, and individuals. First Responders, telecommunicators, and medical personnel have protocols of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in place to respond to any potential impacts to protect the safety of our residents in Hamilton County.

The foundation of a communitywide response is the everyday actions we can take to protect ourselves and prevent the spread of any respiratory disease, such as coronavirus (COVID-19) or influenza, which is still circulating in our community. These actions include:

• Wash your hands often with soap & water. If soap & water are unavailable, use hand sanitizer.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home if you are sick to protect others.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve, elbow, or tissue. Discard the tissue immediately after use.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects.
• Stay informed using reliable information sources.

For the latest information about Coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit the Health Department’s Coronavirus webpage, or call the information hotline at (423) 209-8383.