Coronavirus / COVID-19 Check here for the latest information, visitor restrictions & FAQs.
About Coronavirus Disease 2019
If you are 16 or older, you can now schedule an appointment online for your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination at a Ballad Health Vaccine Center. Your second dose will be scheduled at the center when you get your first dose.
Schedule your appointment at one of our local vaccine centers today:
Ballad Health has launched the Center for Post-COVID Care to provide a full spectrum of services to patients struggling with post-COVID symptoms.
Learn more about our Center for Post-COVID Care.
You can schedule COVID-19 testing online.
Just select “COVID-related visit” and follow the steps to find a testing location near you.
Or call 833-822-5523 to be screened. This Ballad Health Nurse Connect line is active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can also use this Coronavirus Screening Tool to help determine if you or a loved one need to seek medical care.
New visitation guidelines are being implemented at all Ballad Health hospitals, ERs, long-term care, outpatient clinics and other facilities to help contain COVID-19 and protect our patients and team members.
Also, when visiting a Ballad Health facility where visitation is allowed, please wear a mask or face covering. Read more here.
COVID-19 scorecard
The COVID-19 daily scorecard shows several key data measures for Ballad Health’s 21-county service area, such as:
Read the COVID-19 scorecard for the Appalachian Highlands [PDF, 225KB] region.
Following the recommendation of our surgery sub-committee – consisting of physicians and leaders from throughout our system, representing a depth of specialties, markets and expertise – Ballad Health has made plans to resume elective surgeries at our facilities, with some procedures able to be scheduled starting Monday, February 1.
The decision to resume procedures was made so we can continue regular Ballad Health operations to the fullest possible extent, while still safeguarding our communities against the continued COVID-19 threat. During this time, we will carefully phase in new surgery procedures – increasing our scheduled elective procedures over the coming weeks.
Ballad Health will continue to monitor the situation to ensure we're meeting our patients' and providers' needs while moving forward. Thank you for your cooperation during this time. The decision to temporarily suspend elective and non-emergent surgical procedures for the second time during this pandemic was difficult, but it undoubtedly protected many patients, Ballad Health team members and physicians – setting them up for successful procedures now.
Due to changes in the policy related to allocation and distribution of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines by the Tennessee Department of Health, Ballad Health is winding down its Tennessee-based community vaccination centers (CVCs) in Kingsport and Bristol.
The CVCs in Kingsport and Bristol will cease giving first doses of the vaccine on Saturday, Jan. 23, while its center in Johnson City will provide its final first dose on Friday, Jan. 22.
Following Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s address to the people of Tennessee, Ballad Health has issued a statement:
“With coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reaching deadly highs in the Appalachian Highlands, Ballad Health applauds the governor for communicating the gravity of the situation for Tennessee families, and for taking steps that have been shown to help mitigate the spread of what is a deadly and harmful virus.
As of Friday, Oct. 23, 22 team members and six patients have tested positive for COVID-19. Positive team members are in isolation at their homes, and the affected patients have been isolated in a designated, closed COVID-19 unit within the facility. To date, the cases have been contained to a single progressive care unit at the hospital.
Alan Levine, Ballad Health’s chairman and CEO, said caution is especially warranted now, during vacation season and as the Fourth of July holiday approaches. More than half of the new COVID-19 cases at Ballad Health have been related to travel, and popular vacation spots such as Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Florida are reporting enormous spikes in COVID-19 cases.
Large gatherings, including family events, parties and community functions, have an inherently higher risk of COVID-19 transmission. Ballad Health leaders emphasize an increased need for masking, hand hygiene and physical distancing in these instances. Read more about these continued COVID-19 risks.
Ballad Health has created a public service announcement (PSA)-style campaign materials for rural, not-for-profit and non-profit hospitals and health systems to download and customize – at no charge.
Read more about the campaign here. Or request the materials for download.
You can find more regional COVID-19 updates here.
Find COVID-19 resources from the CDC, the states of Tennessee and Virginia, and other sources for more information.