NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — There are 4,362 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee and 79 people have died as a result of the virus, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.
Statewide, 449 have been hospitalized and 592 have recovered from the virus. There have been 56,618 tests conducted in Tennessee.
Davidson County continues to have the highest number of cases.
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.
Metro Public Health Department officials reported 1,140 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nashville/Davidson County, an increase of 65 cases in the past 24 hours. Three additional deaths have been reported, bringing the county's total to 12.
Watch the full Metro briefing below:
Dr. Alex Jahangir said the deaths occurred in a 48-year old man, a 74-year old man, and a 75-year old man. The county's confirmed cases range in age from 2 months to 87 years.
Forty-five people who have tested positive remain hospitalized, and 160 have recovered from the virus. The remaining cases are self-isolating at home and have mild and manageable symptoms.
Dr. Jahangir also said the crisis is highlighting the health disparities among minorities and those who have limited access to health care. The Metro Board of Health will gather and share data on the virus’s impact on race and ethnicity in Nashville.
Jahangir stressed that it's unclear when the peak will occur, but he believes we’re still on the upward trend of the curve.
“More people are getting sick and I’m sad to say more people will die,” Jahangir said. “I ask you to remain vigilant and stay the course.”
Dr. James Hildreth, with Meharry Medical College, said some models indicate the curve in Tennessee may be flattening. However, he stressed the necessity of staying home and practicing social distancing.
“If we don’t do those things, those [model assumptions] will be false and those models will fall apart,” Dr. Hildreth said.
Gov. Bill Lee’s “Safer at Home” order, which requires all Tennesseans to stay home unless they’re carrying out essential activities, remains in effect until April 14, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.
"Easter is this Sunday, and there will be temptation to worship together. That would be a huge mistake that would put lives at risk. I must that we make it virtual and let’s save lives. The indications are we’re doing a great job. Let’s not be a vector for COVID-19," Hildreth said.
Davidson County continues to have the highest number of confirmed cases in the state.
The MPHD COVID-19 Hotline received 286 calls on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
Total number of cases: 1,140
Number of cases confirmed today: 65
Cases by sex
Male: 526
Female: 576
Unknown: 38
Total Cases by age
| Unknown | 135 |
| 0-10 | 16 |
| 11-20 | 55 |
| 21-30 | 372 |
| 31-40 | 180 |
| 41-50 | 114 |
| 51-60 | 136 |
| 61-70 | 80 |
| 71-80 | 43 |
| 81+ | 9 |
| Total | 1,140 |
| Recovered | 160 |
| Deaths | 12 |
| Total active cases | 968 |
Nashville has three Community Assessment Centers for COVID-19:
- Nissan Stadium Lot “N”, 1 Titans Way, Nashville, TN 37213
- Meharry Medical College 918 21st Ave North, Nashville, TN 37208
- Residents must first call to receive an initial assessment by a public health professional. Callers can also access recorded messages, which provide the latest information about COVID-19 and details about the Safer at Home Order.
The hotline number is 615-862-7777 and is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week in both Spanish and English.
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.
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- Donate to the COVID-19 Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund
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.
