COVID-19 cases surpass 490,000 in Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Tennessee Department of Health released data on COVID-19 in the state.

Each day, the health department releases numbers on deaths, cases, recoveries and hospitalizations.

December 17

Cases: 493,230

Deaths: 5,845

Hospitalizations: 2,897

Inactive/Recoveries: 418,724

Total tests: 5,147,733

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is 493,230 as of December 17, 2020 including 5,845 deaths, 2,897 current hospitalizations and 418,724 are inactive/recovered. [Percent positive for today is 21.50%] For the full report with additional data: https://t.co/jlAz8a6Upp. pic.twitter.com/Nr0slcnkFN
— TN Dept. of Health (@TNDeptofHealth) December 17, 2020

On December 17, the state saw its largest day-to-day increase of deaths--177.

December 16

Cases: 484,285

Deaths: 5,668

Hospitalizations: 2,874

Inactive/Recoveries: 411,843

Total tests: 5,114,800

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is 484,285 as of December 16, 2020 including 5,668 deaths, 2,874 current hospitalizations and 411,843 are inactive/recovered. [Percent positive for today is 17.75%] For the full report with additional data: https://t.co/jlAz8a6Upp. pic.twitter.com/jQ6VdXWgKc
— TN Dept. of Health (@TNDeptofHealth) December 16, 2020

December 15

Cases: 472,875

Deaths: 5,615

Hospitalizations: 2,821

Inactive/Recoveries: 404,597

Total tests: 5,056,990

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is 472,875 as of December 15, 2020 including 5,615 deaths, 2,821 current hospitalizations and 404,597 are inactive/recovered. [Percent positive for today is 18.17%] For the full report with additional data: https://t.co/jlAz8a6Upp. pic.twitter.com/CkG24XDM8D
— TN Dept. of Health (@TNDeptofHealth) December 15, 2020

December 14

Cases: 464,624

Deaths: 5,541

Hospitalizations: 2,738

Inactive/Recoveries: 394,147

Total tests: 5,012,404

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is 464,624 as of December 14, 2020 including 5,541 deaths, 2,738 current hospitalizations and 394,147 are inactive/recovered. [Percent positive for today is 16.46%] For the full report with additional data: https://t.co/Psc3HfgZ8j. pic.twitter.com/EumyNZnYZi
— TN Dept. of Health (@TNDeptofHealth) December 14, 2020

December 13

Cases: 454,305

Deaths: 5,462

Hospitalizations: 2,680

Inactive/Recoveries: 390,891

Total tests: 4,952,865

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is 454,305 as of December 13, 2020 including 5,462 deaths, 2,680 current hospitalizations and 3,496 recovered. [Percent positive for today is 12.95% ] For the full report with additional data: https://t.co/Psc3HfgZ8j. pic.twitter.com/rIXKSeZu4S
— TN Dept. of Health (@TNDeptofHealth) December 13, 2020

December 12

The department of health said December 12 that, today’s counts didn’t include all negative test results and skewed the positivity rate.

Cases: 442,953

Deaths: 5,400

Hospitalizations: 2,699

Inactive/Recoveries: 387,395

Total tests: 4,869,834

PLEASE NOTE: As we work to streamline data processing, today’s counts do not include all negative test results, which is skewing the positivity rate. We’re working to resolve this issue and today’s data should be interpreted with that in mind. Full report: https://t.co/Psc3HfgZ8j pic.twitter.com/G8VP3dEA3X
— TN Dept. of Health (@TNDeptofHealth) December 12, 2020

December 11

Cases: 436,262

Deaths: 5,327

Hospitalizations: 2,640

Inactive/Recoveries: 382,444

Total tests: 4,857,934

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is 436,262 as of December 11, 2020 including 5,327 deaths, 2,640 current hospitalizations and 383,478 are inactive/recovered. [Percent positive for today is 12.91%] For the full report with additional data: https://t.co/Psc3HfgZ8j. pic.twitter.com/fteKpgtAru
— TN Dept. of Health (@TNDeptofHealth) December 11, 2020

December 10

Cases: 428,973

Deaths: 5,240

Hospitalizations: 2,558

Inactive/Recoveries: 382,444

Total tests: 4,804,074

The case positivity rate did not lower, but was at 18.57 on December 10, according to the department of health.

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is 428,973 as of December 10, 2020 including 5,240 deaths, 2, 558 current hospitalizations and 382,444 recovered. [Percent positive for today is 18.57% ] For the full report with additional data: https://t.co/Psc3HfgZ8j. pic.twitter.com/jcrNKzcsVk
— TN Dept. of Health (@TNDeptofHealth) December 10, 2020

December 9

Cases: 422,962

Deaths: 5,171

Hospitalizations: 2,605

Inactive/Recoveries: 376,851

Total tests: 4,773,224

According to the TDH, the state’s percent positive was 18.15 percent on Wednesday. According to Johns Hopkins University, “If a community’s positivity is high, it suggests that that community may largely be testing the sickest patients and possibly missing milder or asymptomatic cases.”

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is 422,962 as of December 9, 2020 including 5,171 deaths, 2,605 current hospitalizations and 376,851 recovered. [Percent positive for today is 18.15% ] For the full report with additional data: https://t.co/Psc3HfgZ8j. pic.twitter.com/2EFdmlPZck
— TN Dept. of Health (@TNDeptofHealth) December 9, 2020

December 8

Cases: 414,749

Deaths: 5,109

Hospitalizations: 2,566

Inactive/Recoveries: 371,163

Total tests: 4,729,118

December 8 saw the highest day-to-day deaths recorded thus far in the pandemic. The previous record was set on Dec 3 with 93.

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is 414,749 as of December 8, 2020 including 5,109 deaths, 2,566 current hospitalizations and 371,163 are inactive/recovered. [Percent positive for today is 18.47%] For the full report with additional data: https://t.co/Psc3HfgZ8j. pic.twitter.com/01rD2BkhcZ
— TN Dept. of Health (@TNDeptofHealth) December 8, 2020

Guidance released by the CDC advises practicing preventative measures to help stop an outbreak in your community by:

- Avoiding contact with people who are sick

- If you are sick, stay home

- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue

- Clean frequently touched surfaces daily

- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

- Use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol