Oak Ridge Today

COVID-19 cases pass 2,000 in Tennessee

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Graph by Ken Mayes (used with permission)

Note This story was last updated at 8:30 a.m. April 1.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee passed 2,000 on Tuesday. The Tennessee Department of Health reported 2,239 cases, 23 deaths, and 175 hospitalizations due to COVID-19, a contagious respiratory illness that can be deadly.

The number of cases in Tennessee increased by 405. That was a 22 percent increase from Monday, when there were 1,834 cases.

The 23 deaths reported Tuesday were up from 13 on Monday. The state doesn’t currently list the counties where the deaths occurred.

The state also does not report which counties the hospitalizations occurred in, and it’s not clear how many of the patients remain in the hospital.

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

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Governor issues ‘safer at home’ order that urges people to stay home

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Bill Lee

Note This story was last updated at 7:45 p.m.

As the number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee continued to climb Monday, Governor Bill Lee issued a “safer at home” order that urged residents to stay home unless they are engaged in essential activities and it required non-essential businesses to close to the public, although curbside and delivery service will be allowed.

Critics immediately suggested the order wasn’t strong enough. Some would like a shelter in place order or stay at home order that does more than urge people to stay home.

The governor’s office said the new order, Executive Order 22, implements “safer at home” guidelines in every Tennessee county to further help slow the spread of COVID-19, a contagious respiratory illness that has no cure and can cause severe symptoms and lead to hospitalization and death. The Tennessee Department of Health confirmed 1,834 cases in the state on Monday, with 148 hospitalizations and 13 deaths. The number of cases has more than doubled in the past five days, Lee’s order said.

The governor’s order goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. Central time on Tuesday, March 31, and it will continue through 11:59 p.m. Central time on April 14.

“This is not a mandated shelter in place, but instead urges Tennesseans who are in non-essential roles to remain at home,” the governor’s office said.

The executive order restricts businesses that cannot safely operate during COVID-19 including businesses like barber shops, salons, and recreational and entertainment outfits, Lee’s office said. It also provides for the continuation of essential businesses throughout every county to protect the economy, the office said.

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COVID-19 cases pass 1,500 in Tennessee

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Graph courtesy Ken Mayes and used with permission

Note: This story was last updated at 11:40 a.m.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee passed 1,500 on Sunday.

There are now 1,537 cases in 72 of Tennessee’s 95 counties, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

That’s triple the number of cases from a week earlier. There were 505 cases on Sunday, March 22. The number of cases appears to be doubling in Tennessee in a range generally between two and five days.

“This is a very serious threat that we face as a community,” Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said during a press conference in Memphis on Friday. “We certainly have the capacity to rise up like Tennesseans do, to address it in a way that only we can. But it will take the efforts of every single one of us to do it.”

Lee said Tennessee is testing more people per capita than many other states.

The governor responded to a question about a potential “stay at home” order, an action he’s been urged to consider, and when they’re appropriate. He said a majority of states have not issued such an order statewide, and the decisions require “real discernment.” Closing businesses leads to job losses and affects livelihoods, Lee said. States are trying to use the right approaches and right decisions at the right time in the right places, Lee said.

“Here’s the reality in Tennessee: We are to a great degree, shut down as a state,” Lee said. “Every major population center has a stay at home order. The most populous counties in our state are all covered by stay at home orders—every restaurant, dining room in the state, every bar in Tennessee, every school in Tennessee…Tennesseans have shut down. This state is largely closed down, except for the number of folks that are moving around for the appropriate reasons.”

But that’s not true for all Tennessee residents, Lee acknowledged, as he urged residents to stay home, stay apart, avoid gatherings, and avoid unnecessary activities.

The number of confirmed cases in Anderson County ticked up to six on Sunday.

In surrounding counties, Knox County had 38 cases; Loudon County had eight; Campbell County had four; Roane County and Scott County each had two; and Morgan County and Union County each had one.

More than 133 patients have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Tennessee, a hospitalization rate of about 8.7 percent of confirmed cases. Seven people have died, according to the Tennessee Department of Health, which publishes the state case totals at 2 p.m. Central time each day. It’s not clear how many of the 133 patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19 remain in a hospital, or where the majority have been hospitalized.

Shelby County, which includes Memphis in West Tennessee, recently passed Davidson County, which includes Nashville in Middle Tennessee, in the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state. Shelby County had 313 cases on Sunday, while Davidson County had 260. Shelby County had about 20 percent of the state’s total, while Davidson County had roughly 17 percent.

Oak Ridge Today has reported on three cases in Anderson County, one at the Anderson County Courthouse and two at the Y-12 National Security Complex. But it’s not clear where those two patients live or were tested, so it’s not clear if those cases are included in the case totals for Anderson County or in the case totals for another county.

There have been 20,574 COVID-19 tests total in the state, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. Of those, 19,037 (92.5 percent) have been negative, and 1,537 (7.5 percent) have been positive.

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COVID-19 cases rise to 1,373; Morgan, Union report first cases

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Graph by Ken Mayes (used with permission)

Note: This story was updated at 9:20 .m. March 30.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee rose to 1,373 on Saturday, and Morgan and Union counties reported their first cases.

More than 118 patients have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Tennessee, and six people have died, according to the Tennessee Department of Health, which publishes the state case totals at 2 p.m. Central time each day.

Shelby County, which includes Memphis in West Tennessee, now has more COVID-19 cases than Davidson County, which includes Nashville in Middle Tennessee. Shelby County has 269 cases, compared to 243 for Davidson County. Each county has roughly 18 percent of the state’s total cases. The Shelby County total was up from 201 on Friday.

COVID-19 cases have now been reported in Anderson County and all of its surrounding counties: Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union.

The number of cases in Anderson County increased to five on Saturday, up from four on Friday and three on Thursday.

Oak Ridge Today has reported on three cases in Anderson County, one at the Anderson County Courthouse and two at the Y-12 National Security Complex. But it’s not clear where those two patients live or were tested, so it’s not clear if those cases are included in the case totals for Anderson County or in the case totals for another county.

Knox County, which includes Knoxville, has 33 cases; Loudon County has six; Campbell county has four; Scott County has two; and Morgan, Roane, and Union counties have one case each.

There have been 18,338 COVID-19 tests total in the state, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. Of those, 16,965 (92.5 percent) have been negative.

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COVID-19 cases up to 1,203 in Tenn. with six deaths

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Note: This story was last updated at 9:30 a.m. March 29.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee increased to 1,203 on Friday, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

That’s up from 957 on Thursday, a 23 percent increase.

It’s up more than five times from 228 the previous week (Friday, March 20).

There are now four cases confirmed in Anderson County. That’s up from three on Thursday. It’s not clear if the four cases include the two that have been publicly disclosed, one at the Anderson County Courthouse and one at Y-12 National Security Complex, because it’s not clear where those two patients live or were tested.

There have been six deaths in Tennessee due to COVID-19 and 103 hospitalizations, the Tennessee Department of Health said in its afternoon list published Friday.

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COVID-19: 3 cases in Anderson; 53 hospitalizations, 3 deaths in Tenn.

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Note: This story was last updated at 2:55 p.m.

The Tennessee Department of Health on Wednesday reported three cases of COVID-19 in Anderson County; a total of 53 hospitalizations so far, although some patients could have been discharged; and three deaths in Tennessee from the contagious respiratory illness.

Oak Ridge Today has reported on two cases in Anderson County, one at the Anderson County Courthouse and the other at the Y-12 National Security Complex. It’s not clear where the third case is.

The total number of confirmed cases in Tennessee climbed to 784 on Wednesday. That was up from 667 on Tuesday and 615 on Monday. The total number of confirmed cases had increased eight times from 98 one week earlier, on Wednesday, March 18.

The state total may not reflect what is being reported in cities and counties and can be lower because there can be a lag between what is being reported to city and county health departments and what is reported by the state.

At least some of the increase in the state’s numbers has been attributed to more testing. But it’s not clear how much of the increase in the number of confirmed cases is due to more testing.

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

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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).

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Lee: Dine-in prohibited at restaurants, gyms must close

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An order from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Sunday prohibits eating inside restaurants and requires gyms and fitness centers to temporarily close.

The executive order is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order, Executive Order 17, said restaurants, bars, and similar businesses that serve food and drinks must sell food only through drive-throughs or take-outs, or by delivery.

Businesses may sell alcohol by take-out or delivery when customers buy food. But the alcohol must be in closed containers and served only to customers who are 21 years old or older.

The measures are meant to help families, businesses, and the food supply chain. Lee’s office said.

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COVID-19 cases rise to 228 in Tennessee

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Note: This story was updated at 3:50 p.m.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee rose to 228 on Friday, up from 154 on Thursday. The new total includes the first confirmed case in Anderson County.

The number of cases increased about 48 percent from Thursday to Friday.

The 48 percent jump from Thursday to Friday followed a 57 percent increase from Wednesday to Thursday. That increase, the largest day-to-day increase, was due to more tests being available, said Lisa Piercey, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health.

The contagious respiratory illness, which can be lethal, is now reported in 26 of Tennessee’s 95 counties, up from 17 counties on Thursday. Besides Anderson County, Blount County is reporting its first new case.

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So far, about half of Tennessee’s COVID-19 patients are 21-40 years old

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As of Thursday, about half of the 154 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee were diagnosed in people between 21-40 years old, according to numbers published by the Tennessee Department of Health.

The highest number of cases, 43, were confirmed in people 21 to 30 years old, the data said. That’s about 28 percent of cases.

The next-highest number of cases, 32, were confirmed in people 31-40 years old, the health department said. That’s about 21 percent of cases.

Together, those two age groups account for 75 cases, or about 49 percent of the total.

There is a smaller number of cases, 24, or about 16 percent, in the 41- to 50-year-old age group.

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Number of COVID-19 cases jumps to 154 in Tennessee

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Image courtesy Tennessee Department of Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Note: After this story was published, the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Anderson County.

This story was last updated at 11:55 p.m.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee jumped to 154 on Thursday, up from 98 on Wednesday.

That’s a 57 percent increase in one day, the largest day-to-day increase. The increase is due to more tests being available, said Lisa Piercey, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health.

There are 15 hospitalizations but no deaths, Piercey said.

The contagious respiratory illness is now in 17 counties, but about half of the cases are in Davidson County, which includes Nashville, in Middle Tennessee.

The total number of cases could be higher because there could be cases that have not yet been reported to the Tennessee Department of Health, which releases its state total at 2 p.m. each day. For example, a COVID-19 case confirmed in Anderson County on Thursday afternoon is not yet included in the state total.

Piercey said the state is still struggling to get some supplies in some areas, particularly personal protective equipment, but there are efforts that could help supply items like masks, according to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

For screening for testing, the state is giving priority to health care workers, people over 65 years old, and those who are hospitalized.

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Governor asks all school districts to close

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Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has asked all school districts in the state to close as soon as possible.

He expects all schools to close by Friday, March 20, at the latest.

It’s part of the state’s response to COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus.

“Schools should remain closed through March 31 to further mitigate the spread of this infectious disease, and we will issue further guidance prior to March 31,” Lee said in an announcement on Monday morning.

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