Metro Nashville

On Tuesday, Nashville reported 1,936 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The number on Friday morning was 2,176, an increase of 240 over the last few days with 32 of those cases confirmed in the past 24 hours. The number of deaths remains at 22, while 1,111 individuals have recovered and 1,043 cases remain active. The number of positive results has dropped slightly from 10.6% to 10.4% of tests taken. To date, 20,890 tests have been administered.

Mayor John Cooper has extended the city's current Safer At Home order to May 1, after which the mayor said a phased reopening of the city could begin. However, he noted any decisions would be dependent on facts. The city now mirrors the state in allowing those who are symptom-free to be tested for the novel coronavirus. Nashville's community assessment system is available to everyone in Nashville free of charge. Those who believe they have COVID-19 symptoms should call the hotline at 615.862.7777, open 7 days a week from 7 am-7 pm. Testing sites are located at Nissan Stadium Parking Lot N, Meharry Medical College and at the Former Kmart site on Murfreesboro Pike in Antioch.

Earlier this week, Mayor Cooper released his 'Roadmap for Reopening Nashville.' For a summary and access to the full plan, see https://www.nashvillemedicalnews.com/article/3127/mayor-cooper-outlines-roadmap-for-reopening

Tennessee State

On Tuesday, Tennessee had 7,394 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Today, those numbers have risen to 8,726 - an increase of 1,332 over the last three days, and the third day in a row with a single day increase in excess of 400. Deaths statewide now stand at 168 with 808 hospitalizations. The hospitalization rate stood at 14% earlier this week but has decline to 9% as more testing has occurred with a total of 131,298 tests having been completed statewide across state and non-state laboratories. The state also reports 4,370 individuals have recovered.

Breakdowns by gender show 46.5% of reported cases are female, accounting for 66 deaths (39.3%). Males make up 50.6% of cases and account for 102, or 60.7% of deaths. By race, currently 43.6% of those with COVID-19 are white, 19.5% black or African American, 6.1% multiracial or other, 2.1% Asian and 28.7% pending. However, deaths by race break out as follows: white (103 deaths) 61.3%, black or African American (55 deaths) 32.7%, Asian (4 deaths) 2.4%, multiracial or other (1 death) 0.6%, and pending (5 deaths) 3%. Of the 168 total deaths in the state, 44 have occurred at skilled nursing facilities (26.2%).

Drive-through testing will be available again this coming weekend and May 2-3.

Despite jumps in reported cases, Governor Bill Lee is still moving forward with openings in most counties. Here is the link to 'Reopening Tennessee Responsibly' (also known as the Tennessee Pledge), the state's guidelines for businesses: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/governorsoffice-documents/covid-19-assets/Pledge_General.pdf

Much like his 'strong suggestion' that preceded a stay-at-home mandate, the Tennessee Pledge is a set of guidelines that are 'recommendations,' which the governor hopes will be enough to encourage businesses to act responsibly. State parks were allowed to reopen today. Restaurants can open Monday at 50% capacity and retail stores next Wednesday at 50% capacity. These green lights for opening, however, do not include major metropolitan areas including Nashville, which will set its own timeline and guidance for a phased opening (see above).