Oak Ridge Today

Scientist-entrepreneur to talk about regenerative medicine, potential COVID treatment

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Cymbeline “Bem” Culiat

A former molecular geneticist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will discuss regenerative medicine and a potential treatment for severe COVID-19 disease patients and those who struggle with “long haul” symptoms.

The talk by Cymbeline “Bem” Culiat—co-founder, president, and chief science officer of NellOne Therapeutics in Knoxville—will speak virtually to Friends of ORNL at noon Tuesday, February 8.

“While at ORNL, Culiat discovered the role of the NELL1 signaling protein in fostering the growth and maturation of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular tissues in mice and other mammals, including humans,” a press release said. “Her biotech company focuses on using her discovery to advance regenerative medicine, which involves replacing, engineering, or regenerating human or animal cells, tissues, or organs to promote healing and restore normal function. In contrast, traditional medicine typically provides treatment of symptoms rather than addressing root causes.”

To view the virtual lecture, click on the talk title on the homepage of the www.fornl.org website and click on the Zoom link near the top of the page describing the lecture. Here is Culiat’s summary of what she will talk about: [Read more…]

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Hospitals ask for your help

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Methodist Medical Center Main Entrance
Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

Emergency departments at hospitals in the Knoxville area are overflowing and many health care workers are absent due to illness, and health care systems are asking for your help as they start a third year battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our communities are still in an emergency,” the hospitals said in a statement Wednesday. “Health care systems continue to be under unprecedented strain. We remain committed to delivering the medical services needed by our communities, but we need your help.

The statement was issued by Covenant Health, which includes Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge; Tennova Healthcare; University of Tennessee Medical Center; Blount Memorial Hospital; and Sweetwater Hospital Association.

“The Omicron variant is racing through East Tennessee with lightning speed, spreading easily from person to person, increasing infections and hospitalizations,” the hospitals said in their statement. “This year. we are also seeing large numbers of patients with respiratory illnesses such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumonia, and post-COVID-19 complications, in addition to heart attacks, strokes, and other emergent care needs. Our emergency departments are overflowing with these cases and other medical emergencies, leading to longer-than-usual wait times as we work to deliver care to all who are counting on us.”

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Many schools closed due to illness

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A graph of COVID-19 case counts in the Knoxville-Knox County region through Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, by the Tennessee Department of Health.

Many schools in the area are closed this week due to illness, but Oak Ridge Schools have remained open.

Anderson County Schools were closed Wednesday and Thursday and will remain closed Friday “due to staffing concerns related to illness.”

Clinton City Schools were open Wednesday but closed Thursday, and they will remain closed Friday due to student illness.

Knox County Schools were also closed Wednesday and Thursday and will remain closed Friday “due to staffing challenges related to illness.” The school system cannot shift to virtual learning district-wide because of rules established by the Tennessee Board of Education, Knox County Schools Superintendent Bob Thomas said in a letter to families. But individual schools may have to switch to virtual learning in the next several weeks depending upon absences, and the district could submit waiver applications to the Tennessee Department of Education.

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COVID cases exceed 250 per day

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A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

  The number of new COVID-19 cases hit a pandemic high last week with more than 250 new cases per day, and deaths have increased to a level not seen since the winter 2020 surge, more than one per day. Positivity soared last week to a record 49%, with one out of every two patients testing positive for COVID-19. Hospitalizations at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge have tripled since after Christmas. About 22% of the county’s residents have been infected since the pandemic began roughly two years ago.

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A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

  The number of new COVID-19 cases hit a pandemic high last week with more than 250 new cases per day, and deaths have increased to a level not seen since the winter 2020 surge, more than one per day. Positivity soared last week to a record 49%, with one out of every two patients testing positive for COVID-19. Hospitalizations at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge have tripled since after Christmas. About 22% of the county’s residents have been infected since the pandemic began roughly two years ago.

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Average number of daily COVID cases again passes 100

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A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

  For the first time in more than a year, the average number of new COVID-19 cases has exceeded 100 per day in Anderson County. Two more deaths and three more hospitalizations were reported between January 5 and January 8, the most recent reporting period, and the positivity rate hit a high of 38% on January 8, meaning roughly four out of 10 patients tested positive for COVID. About 20% of the county’s residents have now been infected with COVID-19 since the pandemic began almost two years ago, and current hospitalizations have increased at Methodist Medical Center since late December. The new surge, presumably driven by the omicron variant, which is now dominant in Tennessee, has surpassed the delta surge, which peaked in September.

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A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

  For the first time in more than a year, the average number of new COVID-19 cases has exceeded 100 per day in Anderson County. Two more deaths and three more hospitalizations were reported between January 5 and January 8, the most recent reporting period, and the positivity rate hit a high of 38% on January 8, meaning roughly four out of 10 patients tested positive for COVID. About 20% of the county’s residents have now been infected with COVID-19 since the pandemic began almost two years ago, and current hospitalizations have increased at Methodist Medical Center since late December. The new surge, presumably driven by the omicron variant, which is now dominant in Tennessee, has surpassed the delta surge, which peaked in September.

The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today. Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here. Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here: Basic

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If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to: Oak Ridge Today P.O. Box 6064 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here. We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!

More than 100 new COVID cases reported Wednesday

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A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

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.

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COVID-19 cases, deaths double while hospitalizations fall

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These graphs show the number of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations reported by month in Anderson County from March 2020 through December 2021. (Data from Tennessee Department of Health/Graphs by Oak Ridge Today)

 

New COVID-19 cases and deaths almost doubled in Anderson County in December, compared to November, while new hospitalizations dropped 50%. The number of COVID-19 deaths last month, 31, was the most in almost a year.

As new cases spike again around the world, the seven-day new case average in Anderson County more than doubled in less than a week from fewer than 30 new cases per day to more than 60. A graph of the increase in new cases shows a steep upward line that is almost vertical.

The average positivity rate remains very high, more than 20%. That can suggest high transmission of the virus that causes COVID, not enough testing, or maybe both.

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Anderson County reports 53% fully vaccinated

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This chart by Oak Ridge Today using Tennessee Department of Health data shows the number of COVID-19 cases each month since December 2020 through Dec. 29, 2021, along with the numbers of vaccines given, vaccine recipients, fully vaccinated, and additional doses.

 

In Anderson County, 53-54% of residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and more than 100,000 vaccine doses have been injected, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

State vaccination data said 41,683 Anderson County residents were fully vaccinated as of December 29. That’s out of an estimated 77,123 residents.

Meanwhile, 14,409 residents have been infected with COVID-19, the Tennessee Department of Health said. That means about 18.7% percent of residents have had COVID-19.

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This chart by Oak Ridge Today using Tennessee Department of Health data shows the number of COVID-19 cases each month since December 2020 through Dec. 29, 2021, along with the numbers of vaccines given, vaccine recipients, fully vaccinated, and additional doses.

 

In Anderson County, 53-54% of residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and more than 100,000 vaccine doses have been injected, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

State vaccination data said 41,683 Anderson County residents were fully vaccinated as of December 29. That’s out of an estimated 77,123 residents.

Meanwhile, 14,409 residents have been infected with COVID-19, the Tennessee Department of Health said. That means about 18.7% percent of residents have had COVID-19.

The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today. Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here. Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here: Basic

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If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to: Oak Ridge Today P.O. Box 6064 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here. We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!

COVID-19 cases surge in Anderson, adjacent counties

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A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

 

COVID-19 cases surged up this week in Anderson County and four adjacent counties—Campbell, Knox, Loudon, and Roane—to the highest levels since near the peak of the delta surge in mid-September.

On Wednesday, Anderson County reported 80 or more cases for the second day in a row, the highest since September 16. The 80 new cases reported Wednesday followed the reporting of 87 new cases on Tuesday, according to Tennessee Department of Health data.

It’s not clear if the spike in cases in the five counties, including Anderson, was related to the new omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. The Tennessee Department of Health was not available for comment Friday while state offices were closed. However, the omicron variant has caused a quick, steep rise in cases in other countries and in other parts of the United States.

If the surge continues, it would be the fourth in Anderson County since the pandemic began March 20, 2020. The last surge, the delta surge, was the third of the pandemic in the county, and it peaked at 152 new cases on September 10.

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A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

 

COVID-19 cases surged up this week in Anderson County and four adjacent counties—Campbell, Knox, Loudon, and Roane—to the highest levels since near the peak of the delta surge in mid-September.

On Wednesday, Anderson County reported 80 or more cases for the second day in a row, the highest since September 16. The 80 new cases reported Wednesday followed the reporting of 87 new cases on Tuesday, according to Tennessee Department of Health data.

It’s not clear if the spike in cases in the five counties, including Anderson, was related to the new omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. The Tennessee Department of Health was not available for comment Friday while state offices were closed. However, the omicron variant has caused a quick, steep rise in cases in other countries and in other parts of the United States.

If the surge continues, it would be the fourth in Anderson County since the pandemic began March 20, 2020. The last surge, the delta surge, was the third of the pandemic in the county, and it peaked at 152 new cases on September 10.

The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today. Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here. Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here: Basic

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If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to: Oak Ridge Today P.O. Box 6064 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here. We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!


A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

 

COVID-19 cases surged up this week in Anderson County and four adjacent counties—Campbell, Knox, Loudon, and Roane—to the highest levels since near the peak of the delta surge in mid-September.

On Wednesday, Anderson County reported 80 or more cases for the second day in a row, the highest since September 16. The 80 new cases reported Wednesday followed the reporting of 87 new cases on Tuesday, according to Tennessee Department of Health data.

It’s not clear if the spike in cases in the five counties, including Anderson, was related to the new omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. The Tennessee Department of Health was not available for comment Friday while state offices were closed. However, the omicron variant has caused a quick, steep rise in cases in other countries and in other parts of the United States.

If the surge continues, it would be the fourth in Anderson County since the pandemic began March 20, 2020. The last surge, the delta surge, was the third of the pandemic in the county, and it peaked at 152 new cases on September 10.

The rest of this story is available if you are a member: a subscriber, advertiser, or contributor to Oak Ridge Today. Already a member? Great! Thank you! Sign in here. Not a member? No problem! Subscribe here: Basic

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If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to: Oak Ridge Today P.O. Box 6064 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here. We also accept donations. You can donate here. A donation of $50 or more will make you eligible for a subscription. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support!

COVID-19 cases spike

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A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

Anderson County reported 83 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, the most in more than three months, and the positivity rate spiked to 24%, which is very high.

It’s not clear if the spike in cases and positivity rate is due to the new omicron variant, the older delta variant, or a mixture of the two.

The last time more than 80 cases were reported was on September 16, when 87 new cases were reported near the peak of the delta surge.

The delta surge, the third of the pandemic in Anderson County, peaked at 152 new cases on September 10.

COVID-19 cases fell after that, averaging about 16 to 17 new cases per day through much of November, before rising past a higher average of 20 new cases per day in early December, according to Tennessee Department of Health data.

The Tuesday spike helped push the seven-day average of cases past 30 new cases per day for the first time since October 7.

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COVID-19 cases rose in early December, falling now

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A daily snapshot of COVID-19 cases in Anderson County on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2021, includes, among other information, the daily number of new cases and the daily positivity rate. (Graphic by Tennessee Department of Health)

The average number of COVID-19 cases per day rose quickly in early December in Anderson County, and the number has been generally slowly falling since December 7.

It’s not clear if the abrupt rise in early December was related to family gatherings during the Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving was about 1.5 weeks before the early December peak of 28.7 new cases per day on December 7.

By Sunday, the seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases in Anderson County had fallen to 22.4 per day, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Health.

The average number of cases has averaged in the 20s so far in December. That’s up from an average in the teens starting in late October but still far below the peak of an average 89.6 new cases per day on September 11. That peak was the height of the summertime delta surge in Anderson County.

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Governor ends COVID emergency

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Bill Lee

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee did not renew the COVID-19 state of emergency that expired Friday night, but he reserved the right to use it again if there are future surges of the virus.

“I am not renewing the COVID-19 state of emergency that expires tonight,” Lee said in a brief statement Friday. “For almost 20 months, this tool has provided deregulation and operational flexibility for hospitals and industries most affected by COVID’s challenges. Should our state face any future surges, we will consider temporarily reinstating this tool, but in the meantime, we are evaluating opportunities for permanent deregulation.”

In the third major statewide surge, this one caused by the delta variant, COVID-19 cases peaked in Anderson County in the first half of September, with a high seven-day average of 89.6 cases on September 11 and a peak of 152 cases on September 10. New cases fell after that but plateaued at about 15-17 new cases per day in late October, and they have remained there for about three weeks. That’s still considerably higher than the summer low average of fewer than one new COVID case per day, on average, in late June and early July, before the delta variant surge started in about mid-July.

[Read more…]

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