More than 100 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Anderson County on Tuesday. That’s the largest number of new cases in one day in almost four months, since the peak of the delta surge. Also, two more COVID deaths were reported between Monday and Wednesday this week. The transmission rate appears to be high; about one out of four people tested for COVID-19 are now testing positive, according to results reported to the state.
The new, more transmissible omicron variant is now the dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the state, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.
The omicron variant has led to a steep spike in new COVID-19 cases around the world.
The seven-day average of new cases in Anderson County on Tuesday was 73.9. That’s more than double, a 250% increase from, the daily new case average of 28.7 just eight days day earlier, on December 27.
While two more deaths were reported between Monday and Wednesday, there were no additional hospitalizations.
The last time there were more than 100 new COVID-19 cases in Anderson County was September 11, when 115 new cases were reported.
The peak of the delta surge, the third surge in the county, was September 10, when 152 new cases were reported.
The positivity rate in Anderson County remains very high. It was 26% on Tuesday, meaning roughly one out of every four COVID-19 tests are positive, at least in results reported to the state.
The seven-day average positivity rate is 24%. A high positivity rate can mean high transmission and not enough testing.
There have been 14,846 COVID-19 cases in Anderson County since the pandemic began March 20, 2020, according to Tennessee Department of Health data published Wednesday.
Anderson County has reported 329 hospitalizations and 268 deaths since the pandemic began.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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