Well, 2021 is off to a roaring start between insurrection and soaring COVID infections nationwide. Several community providers have reached out to us about how to secure vaccines when you aren't affiliated with a hospital. We are working to get you answers. Our friends at AARP have put together a good guide to what we know so far in Tennessee, and we also have posted information from the Tennessee Department of Health on their updated plans.

Here's a link to the TDH information on our site: TDH Updates COVID-19 Vaccination Plan (Dec. 30, 2020) and to AARP's site with Tennessee-specific info: AARP Tennessee Vaccine Distribution Update

Metro has also announced that residents 75+ will begin to be able to receive COVID-19 vaccines on Saturdays and Sundays beginning Jan. 9. An appointment is required to receive the vaccine. Appointments can be made online by clicking here or calling 615.862.7777 (note, it can take several times to get through and then be prepared to sit on hold for awhile).

Metro Nashville

As of 9:30 today, the city reported 73,533 confirmed cases, an increase of 1,203 in 24 hours. There are currently 6,767 active cases in Nashville, 66,264 inactive or recovered cases and 597 active hospitalizations. With 502 deaths, the city has a case fatality rate of 0.69%. In Davidson County, 829,280 tests have been administered with an overall positive rate of 10.3% (and a 7-day testing percent positive of 21.5%).

Out of 8 metrics on the trend lines, Nashville has 3 in the green, 1 in the yellow and 4 in the red - 14-day new case trend, ICU bed capacity, new cases per 100,000 residents and seven-day positivity. With a goal for transmission to be less than 1.00, the city's current transmission rate is in the green at 0.89. The 14-day case trend continues in the red with new cases categorized as increasing. Public health and testing capacity remain in the green, as they have throughout.

As of 9:30 am this morning, hospital floor bed capacity remained in the yellow with 11% availability, while ICU beds have dropped to some of the lowest levels we've seen at 4% capacity. The goal for both hospital and ICU bed capacity is 20%. I

The New Cases per 100K Residents has remained in the red for the last few weeks. After taking a sharp upturn over the last few weeks, there has been some downward movement over the last few days. The goal of the seven-day rolling average is to be less than 10. Currently, Nashville sits at 85.2 as of 9:30 am this morning (but that's down from 93.3 on Monday). The goal for the 7-Day Positivity Rate is to see a figure at 10% or less. Currently, Nashville is in the red with a rate of 21.5%.

More detailed data is available on the Metro Dashboard. Click here for details.

Nashville remains in a modified Phase 3 of COVID Reopening with new restrictions having been put in place over the last couple of weeks, including the Rule of 8 for indoor gatherings without a pre-approved event plan. The city also continues its mask mandate, with several nearby counties having reinstated similar mandates after letting them expire earlier. Governor Bill Lee extended the Tennessee State of Emergency tied to COVID-19 through February 27.

Vaccinations are in the 1a1/1a2/75+ phase, which means high exposure healthcare workers, long term care residents and staff, first responders, those ages 75 and older, outpatient healthcare workers and mortuary workers should be, or will soon be, eligible for vaccines.

Tennessee State

As of this afternoon, the Tennessee Department of Health reported 634,237 cases of COVID-19 across the state (up 9,000 from the day before) with 555,634 cases defined as recovered or inactive. Currently, there are 3,351 hospitalizations (a net increase of 19 over the previous day), and 7,492 deaths from the virus statewide (an increase of 111 in 24 hours) for a death rate of 1.18. The state has conducted just over 5.7 million tests (an increase of 39,767 in 24 hours) with a 19.87% positivity rate for the day. Hospital capacities stand at 12% of floor beds (1,431 beds) and 8% of ICU beds (165 beds) available statewide.

For information on vaccination distribution, visit the TDH vaccine dashboard at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/covid-19-vaccine-information.html. This dashboard is updated each Tuesday and Friday.