COVID-19 cases rise to 505 in Tenn.; Loudon reports first case

Note: This story was updated at 4:40 p.m.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee rose to 505 on Sunday, a 36 percent increase from Saturday, when the total was 371.

The first case was reported in Loudon County south of Anderson County on Sunday. Cases have previously been reported in Anderson County and four surrounding counties: Campbell, Knox, Roane, and Scott.

About 50 percent of COVID-19 cases continues to be among patients who are 21 to 40 years old.

About 47 percent of cases are in three Nashville-area counties: Davidson (167), Sumner (22), and Williamson (48).

There are now five times as many cases confirmed in Tennessee as there were just four days ago, Wednesday, when there were 98 cases. At least some of the increase has been attributed to more tests being available.

Anderson County, which includes most of Oak Ridge’s population, has one case. Roane County, which includes part of the city, also has one case.

Scott County north of Anderson County and Campbell County northeast of Anderson County each have two cases.

No cases have been reported in two other adjacent counties: Morgan and Union.

The death of a second Tennessee resident due to COVID-19 was reported Sunday. The patient died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, and the person was reported to be a resident of an adjacent county and had underlying medical conditions.

The first death was reported Friday, also in Nashville. That patient was a 73-year-old man from Nashville.

COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness that can lead to severe symptoms or hospitalization and even death. It is now reported in 41 of Tennessee’s 95 counties, up from 33 on Saturday.

Sixty-six cases are now reported in Shelby County, which includes Memphis in West Tennessee. That’s the second-highest total, after Davidson County in Middle Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Health publishes the state total at 2 p.m. Central time each day.

Here’s the county breakdown of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee as of Sunday, March 22:

• Anderson—1
• Blount—1
• Bradley—2
• Campbell—2
• Carroll—2
• Cheatham—4
• Chester—1
• Cocke—1
• Cumberland—2
• Davidson—167
• Dickson—4
• Dyer—2
• Fayette—3
• Franklin—1
• Gibson—1
• Greene—2
• Hamblen—2
• Hamilton—8
• Houston—1
• Jefferson—2
• Knox—5
• Loudon—1
• Marion—1
• Maury—2
• McMinn—1
• Monroe—3
• Montgomery—3
• Perry—1
• Putnam—6
• Roane—1
• Robertson—3
• Rutherford—8
• Scott—2
• Sevier—1
• Shelby—66
• Sullivan—1
• Sumner—22
• Tipton—5
• Washington—2
• Williamson—48
• Wilson—2
• Patients who are not Tennessee residents—82
• Unknown—30