CHATTANOOGA, Tenn – On Monday, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger announced the formation of the COVID-19 Joint Task Force.
According to a press release, the 15-person task force will help coordinate the City and County’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Rae Young Bond, CEO of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, will lead the group of medical and healthcare professionals that will meet weekly and make recommendations for local response.
“In the midst of an unprecedented pandemic like this one, it’s never been more important that we listen to experts. Mayor Coppinger and I feel the best way to continue to make our community as safe and healthy as possible is to bring everyone together,” Mayor Berke was quoted in the press release. “Our goal is to give our community timely, informed updates about our vulnerable populations, how our medical facilities are preparing, and other information related to the spread of the virus in our area.”
The task force will meet weekly and brief Mayor Berke and Mayor Coppinger.
“In an emergency situation like this there is no county or city divide, we’re all one community,” Mayor Coppinger added. “It’s vital we keep our residents safe and healthy, and bringing together the best subject-matter experts in our local healthcare industry will help Mayor Berke and I do that.”
“We are all working around the clock to keep our community safe,” Bond said. “This Task Force brings all the brightest minds into one setting and it will allow us to provide more detailed information to our community on this rapidly changing situation.”