COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the U.S. state of Tennessee on March 5, 2020. As of August 14, 2020, there are 130,458 confirmed cases, 1,326 deaths, 91,323 recoveries, and 1,809,900 reported tests.[1]
| COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee | |
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 Total cases by county as of August 14
1–9 cases 10–49 cases 50–99 cases 100–249 cases 250–4,999 cases >5,000 cases | |
 Total deaths by county as of August 14
1–9 deaths 10–49 deaths 50–99 deaths 100–249 deaths 250–4,999 deaths | |
 Map of the outbreak in Tennessee by confirmed new infections per 100,000 people (14 days preceding August 15)
500+ confirmed new cases
200–500 confirmed new cases
100–200 confirmed new cases
50–100 confirmed new cases
20–50 confirmed new cases
10–20 confirmed new cases
0–10 confirmed new cases
No confirmed new cases or no data | |
 Map of the outbreak in Tennessee by total confirmed infections per 100,000 people (as of August 15)
3,000+ confirmed infected
1,000–3,000 confirmed infected
300–1,000 confirmed infected
100–300 confirmed infected
30–100 confirmed infected
0–30 confirmed infected
No confirmed infected or no data | |
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Tennessee, U.S. |
| Index case | Williamson County |
| Arrival date | March 5, 2020 |
| Confirmed cases | 130,458[1] |
| Hospitalized cases | 5,725 (cumulative)[1] |
| Recovered | 91,323[1] |
Deaths | 1,326[1] |
| Government website | |
| www | |
| Part of a series on the |
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Timeline
March
On March 5, the first case of COVID-19 is reported in Tennessee, in Williamson County. The patient is a 44-year-old adult man and resident of Williamson County who recently flew on a nonstop flight to Boston through Nashville's airport.[2]
On March 12, Governor Bill Lee issues an executive order declaring a state of emergency until May 11.[3]
On March 16, Nashville mayor John Cooper forces bars to close in Nashville and Davidson County and imposes limitations on restaurants.[4] Governor Lee asks schools to close by March 20.[5]
On March 19, Fiona Whelan Prine, wife and manager of country folk singer-songwriter John Prine announces that she has the coronavirus.[6] On March 26, John is admitted to the hospital after suffering sudden onset of COVID-19 symptoms.[7] On April 7, John dies, while Fiona Whelan Prine announces she has recovered.[8]
On March 20, the first death is reported in Nashville.[9]
On March 22, the University of Tennessee reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19. The case involves a staff member and is confirmed by the Knox County Health Department.[10]
On March 23, Memphis mayor Jim Strickland and Shelby County mayor Lee Harris issue "stay at home" executive orders that take effect for Memphis and Shelby County the following day.[11]
On March 26, Middle Tennessee State University confirms an on-campus student tested positive for COVID-19 and is being supported by MTSU Student Health Services.[12]
On March 29, country music artist Joe Diffie dies in Nashville due to complications from the coronavirus, according to his publicist.[13]
April
On April 2, Governor Lee issues a "stay at home" executive order for the entire state, effective through April 14.[14] On April 13, he extends the order through April 30.[15] Two days later, Governor Lee recommends that all Tennessee schools close for the rest of the 2019–2020 school year.[16][17]
On April 20, 150 inmates test positive for COVID-19 at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex in Pikeville, a number that quickly rises as more test positive over the next days.[18][19]
Lee confirmed the "stay at home" executive order will expire on April 30, and the majority of businesses will be able to reopen the following day, May 1.[20]
May
On May 1, around 1,000 inmates and staff tested positive for COVID-19 at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center in Hartsville, leading to a significant jump in the state numbers for that day.[21]
On May 7, a study conducted by Harvard's Global Health Institute in conjunction with NPR listed Tennessee as one of nine U.S. states that was doing enough testing to successfully control its coronavirus outbreak.[22]
On May 10, Hancock County became the last county in the state without any confirmed cases of COVID-19 after Pickett County reported one case.[23]
On May 15, the state of Tennessee announced Phase 2 of reopening, set to start May 22. This applies to 89 of Tennessee's 95 counties (all but Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Shelby, and Sullivan). Knox County mayor Glenn Jacobs announced that Knoxville would follow the state's guidelines. Dollywood announced it planned to reopen "soon".[24]
On May 19, every county in Tennessee was confirmed to have had COVID-19 after Hancock County reported a case.
On May 26, it was reported that all employees of a single farm in Rhea County (nearly 200 people) had tested positive.[25]
July
On July 3, Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order giving authority to Tennessee's 89 non-metro counties with no locally operated health departments to enforce mask-wearing mandates in their counties.[26]
On July 10, State Representative Kent Calfee, a Republican from Kingston became the first member of the Tennessee General Assembly to test positive for COVID-19.[27]
August
On August 5, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that "fear of COVID-19" was not a valid excuse for Tennesseans to vote-by-mail in the coming November elections, countering the injunction of Nashville judge Ellen Lyle mandating a COVID-19 excuse as a reason to apply for a absentee ballot.[28]
Government response
On March 5, Governor Bill Lee reported the state's first case: a man in his 40s in Williamson County who had recently traveled outside the state.[29]
On March 12, Governor Lee issued Executive Order No. 14 to declare a State of Emergency until it expires on May 11. The order allows pharmacists to dispense an additional 30-day prescription provided it is to prevent the spread of the virus, allows for alternate COVID-19 testing sites provided that the Tennessee Medical Laboratory Board is notified, restricts an excessive price increase of items and services until March 27, suspends maximum size limitations for vehicles participating in preventing the spread of the virus, and gives the Tennessee Commissioner of Human Services the ability to waive child care requirements as needed.[3]
On March 13, the Tennessee Supreme Court under Chief Justice Jeff Bivins issued a State of Emergency order applying to the Tennessee judicial branch. The order suspended in-person proceedings until March 31, and extended statutes of limitations and orders of protection that would expire on April 5 or before to April 6.[30] Additionally, Governor Lee banned traveling be state employees for non-essential government business, while also banning visitors and tours in Nashville.[31] The Tennessee General Assembly also banned the public from the legislative Cordell Hull Office complex with only members, staff, and media allowed.[32]
On March 16, Nashville mayor John Cooper announced that bars will close across the county and imposed limitations on restaurants.[4] On the same day, Lee asked schools to close by March 20;[5] on April 15, he recommended they stay closed through the end of the school year.[16][17]
On March 23, Memphis mayor Jim Strickland and Shelby County mayor Lee Harris issued executive orders to take effect 6:00 pm, March 24, requiring residents to remain at home unless they serve essential services.[11] The list of essential services is broad.[33]
The state has gradually collected more information in its coronavirus reporting. Initially, Tennessee was unable to reveal the counties where infected victims lived. On March 10, the state government began reporting coronavirus cases by county, but it still did not have information regarding age and gender. Currently, age, gender, race, and county information is published daily. On March 31, the state government was able to reveal the number of negative cases in each county. Lee also signed an executive order allowing local governments to meet remotely after the legislature failed to do so.[34]
On March 25, during Governor Lee's daily COVID-19 briefing, Military Commissioner Major General Jeff Holmes announced that 250 members of the Tennessee National Guard had been mobilized to assist in the state's response and were receiving training in Smyrna.[35] Small teams of Guardsmen were dispersed across 35 counties to support coronavirus testing.[36] Members of the Tennessee State Guard were activated to assist the National Guard's mission.[37]
On April 2, Governor Lee announced that he would sign Executive Order No. 23, which would call for all residents to stay home through April 14, unless they are carrying out essential activities.[14] On April 13, Lee extended the order to the end of the month, to align with President Trump's plans for businesses to reopen in early May.[15]
The Tennessee Major Metros Economic Restart Task Force was established on April 16, composed of mayors representing Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga, as well as business and health leaders. The task force will plan resumption of business suspended due to COVID-19.[38]
Governor Lee announced on April 20 that the 'Safer at Home' order would expire on April 30, and the majority of businesses would be able to reopen the following day, May 1.[20]
On April 24, Governor Lee announces his reopening plan, applying to 89 of Tennessee's 95 counties. It does not apply to Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga — Tennessee's largest cities. Instead, Lee left reopening decisions to local leaders in those places. The guidelines allow restaurants and retail stores to reopen on April 27 and 29, respectively. The state recommends that businesses should keep occupancy at 50% capacity and require employees to use cloth masks and gloves.[39]
On April 30, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland announce that the city of Memphis and its surrounding county are ready to "slowly start opening our economy back up and get Memphians working again" on May 4. After a meeting of a "diverse group with ideological and political differences", it was determined that Memphis would not be able to reopen with most of the rest of the state. Memphis entered Phase 1 of reopening on May 4.[40]
On May 7, Nashville mayor John Cooper announces that Nashville has a "passing grade" and will begin Phase 1 of reopening on May 11. This brings Nashville into closer alignment with the rest of the state, where some businesses reopened with partial capacity on May 1.[41]
On May 15, the Governor's Economic Recovery Group announced Phase 2 of reopening. In this phase, starting May 22, 89 of Tennessee's 95 counties (excluding the largest cities that determine their own timelines) will allow restaurants and retail to operate at full capacity with social distancing and not allowing groups of more than 10 people. Also "large non-contact attractions" such as theaters, amusement parks, water parks, racetracks, museums, and auditoriums will be allowed to reopen with social distancing. Knox County mayor Glenn Jacobs announced that Knoxville would follow the state's guidelines. Dollywood announced it planned to reopen "soon".[42]
By July 16, after the governor's July 3 executive order giving all Tennessee counties the power to mandate masks in public, Davidson, Dickson, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hawkins, Knox, Madison, Montgomery, Robertson, Sevier, Shelby, Sullivan, Sumner, Washington, and Williamson Counties required masks. Meanwhile, Anderson, Bedford, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Cheatham, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Hickman, Marion, Marshall, Maury, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Rutherford, Sesquatchie, and Wilson Counties announced they would not require masks. Several counties continue to recommend, but not require masks and framed the mask issue as an issue of personal responsibility and "love and respect". Six of Tennessee's counties (Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Shelby, Sullivan) have local health departments and already had the authority to issue mask mandates.[43][44][45][46][47][48][49]
On July 22, 2020, the Oak Ridge City Council, passed a measure to send Governor Lee a resolution to give municipalities the ability to enforce mask mandates, regardless if the county that the municipality is in does not enforce a mandate itself.[50]
On July 29, with schools reopening across the state, the state health department decided not to collect data on COVID-19 cases in schools, instead leaving the decision of whether to collect and share the data to the individual school districts.[51][52]
Impact on sports
On March 12, the National Basketball Association announced the season would be suspended for 30 days, affecting the Memphis Grizzlies.[53] In the National Hockey League, the season was suspended for an indefinite amount of time, affecting the Nashville Predators.[54] The National Collegiate Athletic Association cancelled all winter and spring tournaments, most notably the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, affecting colleges and universities statewide.[55] On March 16, the National Junior College Athletic Association also canceled the remainder of the winter seasons as well as the spring seasons.[56]
Testing sites
The Tennessee Department of Health provides information on testing locations by county level.[57] According to the Tennessee Department of Health, "Locations will be added as available. For non-health department sites, individuals should call the assessment site prior to going in person. Many locations do a phone assessment to determine if an in-person assessment or test is needed. For health department sites, individuals should visit during the stated hours of operation."
Statistics
Rate of contagion, age ranges, and ethnicities
See also
- Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States – for impact on the country
- COVID-19 pandemic – for impact on other countries
References
- "Novel Coronavirus". tn.gov. July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- Kelman, Brett; Ebert, Joel. "Coronavirus case detected in Tennessee: First patient is quarantined in Williamson County". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- Executive Order – Lee No. 14 Tennessee Secretary of State
- "Coronavirus in Tennessee latest news: Restaurant restrictions, ACMs delayed and 39 confirmed cases in Tennessee". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- "Tennessee governor urges all schools to close to prevent spread of COVID-19". WMCActionNews5 com. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- Paulson, Dave. "Fiona Whelan Prine, manager and wife of John Prine, has coronavirus: 'Please stay at home'". The Tennessean.
- Kreps, Daniel (March 29, 2020). "John Prine Hospitalized With COVID-19 Symptoms: 'His Situation Is Critical'".
- "Country Folk Singer John Prine Dies at 73 of Coronavirus Complications". April 7, 2020 – via NYTimes.com.
- West, Emily R. "Nashville health department reports Tennessee's first coronavirus death". The Tennessean.
- "First confirmed case of COVID-19 in our campus community". The University of Tennessee Knoxville. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- "Memphis' 'safer at home' executive order: What is an essential service?". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- "MARCH 26: From President McPhee: COVID-19 Update". Middle Tennessee State University. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- Caramanica, Jon (March 30, 2020). "Joe Diffie, Grammy-Winning Country Music Star, Dies at 61". The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- "Gov. Bill Lee issues stay-at-home order through April 14". Community Impact Newspaper. March 30, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- "Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee extends stay at home order through end of April". Tennessean. April 13, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- "Tennessee schools close at governor's request while state battles coronavirus". WMCActionNews5 com. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- "Governor recommends closing Tennessee schools for the rest of the academic year". ClarksvilleNow.com.
- "150 inmates at Bledsoe County Correctional Facility test positive for COVID-19 this weekend". WTVF. April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- "TDOC Update: 345 Cases of COVID-19 Now Reported at Bledsoe County Correctional Complex". 1057news.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- "Governor Lee: TN 'Safer at Home' order to expire April 30, phased reopening next week". WKRN. April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- Sturges, Wendy (May 1, 2020). "Large spike in coronavirus cases traced to prison in Trousdale County". impact. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- Stein, Rob; Wroth, Carmel; Hurt, Alyson (May 7, 2020). "U.S. Coronavirus Testing Still Falls Short. How's Your State Doing?". Retrieved May 11, 2020.
- "Coronavirus in Tennessee: 217 new cases of COVID-19 and a total of 243 have died". WATE 6 On Your Side. May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
- "Tennessee to Lift Capacity Restrictions on Restaurants and Retail, Allow Large Attractions to Reopen May 22". WBIR. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
- Luther, Sam (May 26, 2020). "Rhea Co. farm leader says all of their nearly 200 employees have virus, only 3 symptomatic". WTVC. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- "Tennessee officials given authority to implement mask requirements after Lee signs order". The Tennessean. July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- Elbert, Joel (July 10, 2020). "First COVID-19 cases confirmed in Tennessee legislature, including House Republican". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- Timms, Mariah (August 5, 2020). "Fear of COVID-19 will not be reason to vote absentee in November, Tennessee Supreme Court rules". Tennessean. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- Bowles, Laken (March 5, 2020). "Gov. Bill Lee announces first confirmed case of coronavirus in Williamson County". WTVF. Archived from the original on March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- Laken Bowles Tennessee Supreme Court will keep courts open, suspend in-person proceedings amid COVID-19 concerns March 13, 2020 WTVF
- Kruesi, Kimberlee (March 13, 2020). "Lee closes Capitol, halts state travel over coronavirus". www.apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- Tennessee Capitol, legislative office building close to public amid coronavirus concerns The Tennessean
- "Listing of Essential and Nonessential Services". City of Memphis. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
- Kruesi, Kimberlee (April 1, 2020). "Tennessee grapples with what to disclose amid virus outbreak". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
Lee has also had to take executive action to let local counties and cities meet remotely after the GOP-dominant Legislature failed to do so in the final hours before abruptly passing an emergency spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year and recessing due to coronavirus concerns.
- McGee, Nikki (March 25, 2020). "Governor Lee addresses military assistance, abortion in Wednesday COVID-19 press briefing". WKRN-TV. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- Epright, Dan (April 7, 2020). "Smyrna-based Guard team assists in virus testing". Murfreesboro Post. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- Jorge, Kaylin (April 8, 2020). "Tennessee State Guard members volunteer in fight against COVID-19". WZTV. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- "Tennessee metro mayors form economic restart task force". WATE. April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- Kruesi, Kimberlee; Mattise, Jonathan (April 24, 2020). "Tennessee won't enforce new reopening guidelines". Retrieved May 11, 2020.
- "Memphis and Shelby County to reopen Monday". April 30, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
- Kelman, Brett; Schmitt, Brad (May 7, 2020). "Nashville will let restaurants and stores open at half capacity on Monday". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
- "Tennessee to Lift Capacity Restrictions on Restaurants and Retail, Allow Large Attractions to Reopen May 22". WBIR. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
- "Does your Tennessee county require face masks to be worn in public?". Tennessean. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- "Does your East TN county require a mask?". WBIR. July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- "Mask Mandate: The Tennessee counties requiring face-coverings". WKRN. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- Benton, Ben (July 10, 1010). "Southeast Tennessee's rural counties say no to mask mandate for now". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- Littleton, Wade (July 17, 2020). "Hawkins enacts mask mandate". Citizen Tribune. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- Lee, Murry (July 14, 2020). "Greene County mayor issues mask mandate beginning July 15". WJHL-TV. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- "Hamblen County issues mask mandate in public areas starting Aug. 4". WBIR-TV. August 1, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- Pounds, Ben (July 23, 2020). "Oak Ridge City Council seeks authority to mandate masks". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- Ebert, Joel. "State won't collect, release data on coronavirus cases in Tennessee schools". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- Staff, WSMV Digital. "State will not share COVID case data within schools". WSMV Nashville. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- "Silver: NBA hiatus likely to last 'at least' 30 days". ESPN.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- NHL statement on coronavirus NHL, March 12, 2020
- NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships NCAA, March 12, 2020
- NJCAA cancels spring sports, basketball nationals amid coronavirus outbreak MLive.com, March 16, 2020
- "COVID-19 Assessment Sites". www.tn.gov. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee. |
- information from the Office of the Governor
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