Mayor Kelly Catches Covid Despite Being Vaccinated

Photo: Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly

Photo Credit: Mayor Tim Kelly / Facebook

Published August 19, 2021

The Tennessee Conservative staff –

On Wednesday evening, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly announced that he is self-isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19.

The Mayor was vaccinated against the virus as soon as he was eligible earlier this year.

According to the Mayor’s office, Kelly is “exhibiting only mild, allergy-like symptoms.”

“I am grateful to be fully vaccinated, as my symptoms are barely noticeable,” Kelly said.

Kelly used the opportunity to “strongly encourage all Chattanoogans to get vaccinated and to take appropriate precautions against this virus.”

“My breakthrough case should serve as a reminder that the resurgence of COVID-19 in our community is real, and that we have a lot of work to do to reach a community vaccination rate that will reverse the current trends,” Kelly said.

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Mayor Kelly’s wife, Ginny Kelly, was tested for COVID-19 early yesterday and received a negative result.

The Mayor’s Office states that Kelly will follow all CDC-recommended best practices as he works remotely at home, and will remain in constant communication with his staff to “ensure that Chattanooga government continues to operate at full capacity.”  

Per Mayor Kelly’s recently issued executive orders around masking in city buildings and virtual meetings to conduct city business, Mayor’s Office staff have been working in-office but fully masked and with social distancing measures in place, including conducting group meetings, large and small, online and by phone.

All staff who have been in immediate contact with the Mayor will receive a COVID-19 test, and a deep cleaning of City Hall’s third floor has been ordered.

All Mayor’s Office staff are vaccinated and are currently testing negative for COVID-19.  The Mayor’s Office staff will continue to test daily and will shift to remote work until Monday August 23^rd. 

The following are a list of public events from the Mayor’s calendar for which staff are pursuing CDC-recommended measures for contract tracing: 

• 8/4: Startup Week Press Announcement at Waterhouse Pavilion 
• 8/5: Vax 4 Cash News Conference at Waterhouse Pavilion 
• 8/5: UTC CECS Planning Dinner at the UTC Library  
• 8/7: Minority Health Fair on UTC’s Campus 
• 8/7: HCDE Back-to-School Bash at First Horizon Pavilion  
• 8/7: Highland Park Commons Soccer Tournament at Highland Park Commons 
• 8/10: City Council Agenda Session in City Council Chambers at 1000 Lindsey Street 
• 8/11: Governor’s Civics Seal Unveiling & Recipient Award Ceremony at McConnell Elementary School 
• 8/11: MidTown Chamber Council Meeting at the Chattanooga Zoo  
• 8/16: Water Professionals Conference Welcome and Water Taste Test at the Chattanooga Convention Center 
• 8/16: Water Professionals Conference Reception at Paloma Bar de Tapas 
• 8/18: THDA Presentation at the AIM Center 

The Mayor’s Office encourages any members of the Chattanooga community who may have been in close contact with Mayor Kelly at a public event over the past few days to get tested,  3-5 days after contact, even if they don’t have symptoms.