Tennessee sees 100,000 COVID-19 cases
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — UPDATE: (7/29.20)
Tennessee has reached 100,822 COVID-19 cases. Click here for the latest updates.
UPDATE: (7-28-20)
The Tennessee Department of Health reports an additional 2,555 COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the state's total to 99,044.
There have now been 999 deaths, marking an increase of 21 in one day.
The health department reports 4,372 hospitalizations and 59,760 recoveries. A total of 1,435,433 tests have been administered so far, marking an additional 25,037 in one day.
A "technical disruption" delayed TDH from releasing additional details at its normal time on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Nashville is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases and is reverting back to Phase 2 of reopening for the forseeable future. Click here for Nashville's daily totals.
The totals were reported as Governor Bill Lee extended the State of Emergency in Tennessee through August 29.
Check out the state's latest data here.
Shelby, Davidson, Rutherford, Wilson, Willliamson, Sumner, Putnam, Hamilton, Bradley, Knox and Trousdale counties lead the state in the highest amount of cases.
Here's a county by county map of the cases across Tennessee:
This is a developing story. FOX 17 News is working to update the latest information released by the Tennessee Dept. of Health.
UPDATE: (5-24-20)
There are now 20,145 cases of novel coronavirus confirmed in Tennessee, including 336 deaths related to COVID-19.
That marks a rise of 356 reported cases and 7 deaths in one day.
According to the Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee has tested 383,576 people. Right now, there are 1,578 hospitalizations and 12,837 recoveries.
Here's a county by county map:
Some counties with the highest case numbers are Davidson with 4,518; Shelby County with 4,336; Sumner County with 811; Williamson with 512, Rutherford with 998, Wilson with 355, Bledsoe with 607 (many from the prison) and Trousdale (mainly from the prison) with 1,393.
Of the 20,145 cases of novel coronavirus confirmed in Tennessee, a majority are still from Middle Tennessee.
COVID-19 CASES: Click here to view on mobile.
As of Sunday, Tennessee has 356 deaths, including several midstate nursing home and retirement home residents, country star Joe Diffie, country folk legend John Prine, the brother of Lt. Governor and a Memphis pastor.
Several weeks ago, Gov. Bill Lee laid out the "Tennessee Pledge" which is a set of guidelines, not mandates, for businesses to reopen. So far, restaurants, retailers, salons and small businesses have been allowed to reopen.
Tennessee is still under a state of emergency due to coronavirus. Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced a four-phase plan on reopening the economy that's contingent on COVID-19 either being stable or declining over a 14-day period. Phase Two starts on Monday.
In response to the pandemic, Governor Bill Lee has also established a COVID-19 Unified Command in Tennessee. The joint effort includes TEMA, the Department of Health and the Department of Military.
COVID-19 Symptoms:
- Mild respiratory illness with:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Some patients have severe symptoms that require hospitalization
Here are the latest guidelines from the White House on coronavirus:
- Older people and those with a serious underlying health condition should stay home and stay away from other people.
- If you, your children, or anyone in your household is sick, you should stay home and contact your medical provider.
- Everyone should avoid social gatherings in groups of 10 or more people.
- Everyone should avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts. Instead, guidelines suggest using the drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options.
- Everyone should avoid discretionary travel, shopping trips, and social visits.
- Everyone should avoid visiting nursing homes, retirement, or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
Health officials said these are the best ways to prevent illnesses from spreading:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
For questions or concerns about COVID-19, the Tennessee Department of Health created a patient hotline: 877-857-2945.
Is it coronavirus or something else? Take a look at this graphic to compare symptoms of coronavirus, flu and allergies.
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A healthcare provider for Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the latest person to test positive for COVID-19. According to the medical center, the provider is now recovering at home.
"As the largest private employer of Middle Tennesseans, approaching 30,000 people, it was inevitable someone from VUMC would test positive," Vanderbilt University Medical Center shared in a statement. "There are a small number of additional employees undergoing testing. We are continuing to work closely with State and Metro Health officials and are following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to keep our employees and the Middle Tennessee community well informed and safe."
That makes seven cases total from the midstate: five cases in Williamson County, including a Franklin man and two cases in Davidson County, including a Nashville woman and a Nashville/Davidson County man. The other cases come from Shelby County and case in Sullivan County.
The state announced they will now be providing updated case numbers each day at 2 p.m. Click here for those updates.
COVID-19 tests are being ran seven days a week by the Tennessee Department of Health State Public Health Laboratory to help health care workers identify cases.
Meanwhile, Vanderbilt has cancelled in-person classes for the rest of the month, local hospitals are enacting "no visitor" policies and more than 53,000 hotel rooms in Nashville were cancelled amid the coronavirus scare.
Schools are also closing as some of their students may be been exposes to COVID-19 patients:
Lighthouse Christian School - Antioch:
Part of a letter sent to parents reads, "This morning we were notified by the Metro Public Health Department that one of our students has been exposed with a confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) infected family member," a letter from the school said. "After consulting with the Metro Public Health Department, they have NO REASON to believe that there has been any direct exposure to our campus. Although caution has been advised, we have not been directed to close school."
Williamson County Schools:
Williamson County Schools are closed Tuesday out of an abundance of caution for novel coronavirus. A Battleground Academy student in the senior class is being tested for novel coronavirus, the school announced. According to Battleground Academy, the student did not attend school Monday and has not been to school since last Thursday. He reportedly started experiencing symptoms Sunday night.
A parent in the Brentwood parent also told officials they received positive test results for COVID-19 and had visited a school before being diagnosed.
COVID-19 Symptoms:
- Mild respiratory illness with:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Some patients have severe symptoms that require hospitalization
Health officials said these are the best ways to prevent illnesses from spreading:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
For questions or concerns about COVID-19, the Tennessee Department of Health created a patient hotline: 877-857-2945.
