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May 21 COVID-19 update: 18,961 total cases, 313 deaths in Tennessee

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Posted at 10:34 AM, May 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-21 18:55:11-04

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — On Thursday, an additional 429 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Tennessee, bringing the total number of cases that have been confirmed since the outbreak began to 18,961.

A total of 12,191 Tennesseans have since recovered from the novel coronavirus.

The Tennessee Department of Health said there have been 1,539 hospitalizations and 313 deaths reported due to COVID-19.

Statewide, more than 360,000 tests for COVID-19 have been administered.

Current county-by-county numbers are available in the map below this story, updated daily after 2 p.m. These numbers may not add up the total number, as the daily reports from the Tennessee Department of Health often have dozens of cases that have yet been linked to a county.

Governor Bill Lee held his only update on the pandemic's impact in Tennessee on Thursday afternoon.

During the update, the governor said he has every expectation that schools will reopen in the fall. The governor also spoke about expanding child care services to more essential workers though mid-August.

Gov. Lee also issued an executive order allowing gatherings of up to 50 people. This order applies to 89 of Tennessee's 95 counties. Davidson County is not included.

He also discussed the state's historic unemployment rate which stands at 14.7% for the state of Tennessee in April 2020. Gov. Lee said there are still 22,000 unemployment claims that are pending.

Watch the full update below:

Metro Public Health Department officials have confirmed a total of 4,530 COVID-19 cases in Nashville/Davidson County, an increase of 26 in the past 24 hours.

Health officials said the confirmed cases range in age from 1 month to 100 years. An additional death was reported, a 91-year-old woman who had underlying health conditions.

Fifty-one people have died in Davidson County and 3,111 individuals have recovered from the virus.

The MPHD COVID-19 hotline received 199 calls on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.


Total number of cases: 4,530
Cases reported in the past 24 hours: 26

Cases by sex
Male: 2,395
Female: 1,970
Unknown: 165

Total cases by age

Unknown
53
0-10
140
11-20
364
21-30
1,122
31-40
930
41-50
727
51-60
577
61-70
369
71-80
166
81+
82
Total
4,530
Recovered
3,111
Deaths
51
Total active cases
1,368

Mayor John Cooper also announced the city would begin Phase 2 of its reopening process on Monday.

Editor's Note: We are publishing updates to our COVID-19 count multiple times daily, but with a new story created each day to help track the growth of the virus in the state. Our latest reporting will always be at the top of our website at https://www.newschannel5.com. If this story is more than 24 hours old, (the date this story was published is available at the top of our story, just under the headline) please head to our homepage for our most accurate information.

MORE TENNESSEE COVID-19 COVERAGE

See all our coronavirus coverage here

COUNTY-BY-COUNTY CASES IN TENNESSEE

What is COVID-19 (a.k.a. the new coronavirus?)

According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Examples include the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV)and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. COVID-19 stands for "Coronavirus disease 2019," which is when this strain of the coronavirus was discovered.

What are the symptoms?

The CDC says patients confirmed to have the 2019-nCoV reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of the following symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell

At this time, the CDC believes symptoms could appear as soon as two days after exposure, or as long as 14 days.

Prevention

The CDC is recommending "common sense" measures such as:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.