Note: This story was last updated at 6:55 p.m.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Wednesday announced that free COVID-19 testing will be available to any Tennessee resident, regardless of whether they have the traditional symptoms: fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
It’s a significant expansion of what the state has been doing, including of the testing criteria and testing sites and dates, said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey. She said access is being expanded to the uninsured.
“If you think you need a test, we will test you,” Piercey said during a Wednesday afternoon press conference about the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our clinical understanding of COVID-19 is changing rapidly, and we need every Tennessean who isn’t feeling well, even outside of the traditional COVID-19 symptoms of cough, fever, or difficulty breathing, to come out and get tested.”
Lee said those who might want to get tested include those who aren’t feeling well and those who have come into contact with someone who has had COVID-19.
“We need every Tennesseean who isn’t feeling well to understand that they have access to testing,” Lee said. “When in doubt, get a test.”
COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness that can be deadly.
The new testing is part of a multi-week plan led by the state’s Unified-Command Group to expand testing capacity across the state, and it’s made possible by rapid improvements to the testing apparatus, Lee said. The Unified-Command Group includes the Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Department of Military, and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, or TEMA.
Lee said the state needs a better understanding of how the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is operating in Tennessee as officials plan to re-open the economy in phases starting May 1.
Until then, the governor has extended a statewide stay-at-home order through April 30. It requires Tennessee residents to stay home unless they are carrying out essential activities.
“Expanding our COVID-19 testing capacity allows more Tennesseans to have improved access to testing, which will empower citizens to make informed health decisions,” Lee said.
The governor’s office said states across the country have been grappling with the availability of the tests and supplies needed to conduct COVID-19 tests, as well as the backlog for processing tests. Tennessee has had to be resourceful to pursue testing and has been encouraged by the private sector while searching out vendors and suppliers, Lee said.
“Those efforts are paying off,” Lee said. “We’re beginning to accumulate more and more of those resources.”
The testing is an important part of opening the economy back up, he said.
Piercey, the health commissioner, said the state has been able to procure more testing swabs through the supply chain and TEMA, and there has been an expansion of what is allowed under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards. The list of the types of swabs and other supplies that can be used has been expanded, Piercey said.
“That’s what has helped us to expand our capacity,” she said.
Piercey said the state doesn’t have unlimited testing supplies, but the limiting factors now are hours and manpower.
The expanded testing effort will launch this weekend, April 18-19, with the Tennessee National Guard popping up 15 drive-through testing sites across the state, the press release said. Drive-through testing sites will also be available during the weekends of April 25-26 and May 2-3.Â
Testing stations can process about one automobile every five minutes. But it’s not clear if a site that has two or more testing lines could process multiple tests at the same time.
Piercey said testing has been available in Tennessee already. But the state doesn’t know what the demand will be for the new test—it’s a significant expansion—so officials have contingency plans in place, she said.
In addition to drive-through sites, all rural county health departments across the state offer free COVID-19 testing five days a week, state officials said. There is also private-sector testing available, Piercey said.
A full list of the drive-through sites can be accessed here or in the list below.
Tennessee Department of Health nurses and Tennessee National Guard medics will perform tests at each site and results are projected to be delivered to participants within 72 hours of testing, the press release said.
“Until there is a vaccine for COVID-19, quickly detecting this illness, isolating if ill, and practicing social distancing are the most powerful tools we have to stop the spread and help our state return to work,†Piercey said. “I encourage every Tennessean to remember: ‘when in doubt, get a test’ as we work to identify COVID-19 cases and keep our neighbors safe.â€
Piercey said sites that are not on the current list could be included on future lists.
More information regarding the expanded testing capacity is available here.
COVID-19 Drive-Through Testing Events
| Events on Saturday, April 18, 2020 | |
| Bedford County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Shelbyville Central High School, 401 Eagle Boulevard, Shelbyville |
| Claiborne County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Claiborne County Health Department, 620 Davis Street, New Tazewell |
| Dickson County: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Dickson County Health Department, 301 West End Avenue, Dickson |
| Grainger County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Grainger County Health Department, 185 Justice Center Drive, Rutledge |
| Hardin County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | First Baptist Church, 145 Main Street, Savannah |
| Hawkins County: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Volunteer High School, 1050 Volunteer Street, Church Hill |
| Loudon County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Loudon County Health Department, 600 Ryder Avenue, Loudon |
| Madison County: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Jackson Fairgrounds, 800 South Highland Avenue, Jackson |
| Marion County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Chattanooga State Community College—Kimball Site, 2100 Main Street, Kimball |
| Maury County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Farmer’s Market Pavilion, 102 Riverside Drive, Columbia |
| Monroe County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Monroe County Health Department, 3469 New Highway 68, Madisonville |
| Montgomery County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Montgomery County Health Department, 300 Pageant Lane, Clarksville |
| Robertson County: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Robertson County Fairgrounds, 4635 US-41, Springfield |
| Rutherford County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Rutherford County Health Department, 100 West Burton Street, Murfreesboro |
| Scott County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Scott County Health Department, 344 Court Street, Huntsville |
| Sevier County: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Tennessee Smokies Baseball Stadium, 3540 Line Drive, Kodak |
| Tipton County: 12 p.m.-3 p.m. | Brighton High School, 8045 Highway 51 South, Brighton |
| Union County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Union County Health Department, 4335 Maynardville Highway, Maynardville |
| Van Buren County: 3 p.m.-6 p.m. | Burritt College, 445 College Street, Spencer |
| Weakley County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Weakley County Health Department, 9852 Highway 22, Dresden |
| Williamson County: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Williamson County Health Department, 1324 West Main Street, Franklin |
| Wilson County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Wilson County Health Department, 927 East Baddour Parkway, Lebanon |
| Events on Sunday, April 19, 2020 | |
| Claiborne County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Claiborne County Health Department, 620 Davis Street, New Tazewell |
| Coffee County: 12 p.m.-3 p.m. | Coffee County Administrative Plaza, 1329 McArthur Street, Manchester |
| Fayette County: 12 p.m.-3 p.m. | Oakland First Baptist Church, 8695 US-64, Somerville |
| Grainger County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Grainger County Health Department, 185 Justice Center Drive, Rutledge |
| Madison County: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Jackson Fairgrounds, 800 South Highland Avenue, Jackson |
| McMinn County: 12 p.m.-3 p.m. | Athens Regional Park, 101 Regional Park Drive, Athens |
| Pickett County: 1 p.m.-4 p.m. | B & K Grocery Parking Lot, 8460 Highway 111, Byrdstown |
| Roane County: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Roane State Community College—Harriman Campus, 276 Patton Lane, Harriman |
| Sumner County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Gallatin High School, 700 Dan P. Herron Drive, Gallatin |
| Union County: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Union County Health Department, 4335 Maynardville Highway, Maynardville |
| Washington County: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | East Tennessee State University, 1276 Gilbreath Drive, Johnson City |
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