Lawmaker urging gov. to provide more testing throughout Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Lawmakers are split over how they feel about the state’s response to COVID-19.Some say the state isn’t doing enough and are moving too slowly.

Even though the testing sites are open, some in Nashville say these are only half of what Tennessee should be striving for.

Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Representative Mike Stewart wrote a letter to Governor Lee regarding the "immediate need to provide a coherent, consistent plan for statewide COVID-19 testing."

"The governor is not doing enough to protect our public by having testing generally available. This is not a part-time pandemic and we cannot have part time testing centers. We need to have testing centers in every city in every region working every single day so that every single person who has been exposed can get tested so we can get a handle on this problem," Stewart told NewsChannel 5, referring to testing sites not being open all day, every day.

Governor Lee issued a statewide "Safer-at-Home" order, but Rep. Stewart said it still isn't enough. The order falls short of what doctors across the state have requested from the governor - a mandatory shelter in place order.

“Every single day that our state does not establish effective testing for every Tennessean has been exposed, is another day that we are allowing this COVID-19 situation to get further out of control," said Stewart. "We need to have these testing centers open across the state everywhere it’s needed, starting today. These delays are completely inexcusable. The money is there, the resources are there.”

Despite these criticisms, there are lawmakers who completely disagree. State representative William Lamberth of Sumner County released a statement praising first responders and community members for coming together during the crisis.

I appreciate Gov. Lee, the Department of Health, the Unified Command, our National Guard members, local and city leaders, the entire staff at Sumner Regional Medical Center and our first responders as they continue to work together to quickly address what has become a tragic situation at the Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing. The state’s rapid intervention through comprehensive testing of patients and staff members at this facility, combined with the heroic care provided by our local first responders and health professionals will help save additional lives, while also limiting further spread of Covid-19 within our community.”