This is WPLN’s latest live blog, which will be updated regularly with news on the spread of coronavirus in Tennessee.
A reminder: Public officials are asking for even more social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus. They continue to encourage everyone to stay home, wash their hands, cover their coughing and remain at least 6 feet away from others.
The Tennessee Department of Health’s latest report says 3,321 cases of COVID-19, including 43 deaths and 311 hospitalizations, have been identified in the state. This figure is updated at 2 p.m. each day.
Tennessee Inmate Tests Positive To COVID19
Saturday, April 4 at 12:50 p.m.
The Tennessee Department of Correction said Saturday that an inmate from the Turney Center Industrial Complex in Hickman County has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The man went to a hospital on March 25 for an unrelated matter, but when he was preparing to be discharged five days later, he started developing symptoms.
He was tested for COVID-19 and the results came back positive on Friday, the agency said in a statement.
“Upon discharge from the hospital, the inmate will be held in isolation in a medical infirmary within TDOC until he is determined to be non-infectious, per CDC guidelines,” the agency said.
TDOC said it has identified two other inmates at Turney Center who may have been in contact with the patient. The two men have been quarantined and are being observed for any possible symptoms.
— Sergio Martínez-Beltrán
Class Schedule Released For PBS Educational Programming
Friday, April 3 at 5:15 p.m.
First and second graders will get the first taste of learning from home via public television Monday morning, as the Tennessee Department of Education tries to deliver something like a classroom experience via PBS stations around the state.
The 30-minute blocks will run from 10 a.m. to noon each day for grades 1-6. They’ll also be uploaded to YouTube afterward. Recorded video lessons will be available for seventh and eighth graders online starting the week of April 13. Then there will be additional content aired overnight that could be recorded.
The lessons are developed by the TDOE with teachers across the state. They’re focused on the core subjects of math and English language arts. Work packets will be posted for teachers and families on the TDOE website.
“I am honored to be a part of it to provide these lessons for not only my students but also children across the state,” teacher Jessica Alley of Christiana Middle School said in a statement. “This partnership with PBS is one way we can help give all students access to learning opportunities during this unprecedented time.”
Nashville Public Television is already a week into its local educational programming block, called “At Home Learning.” The original content from the state will be in addition to the current schedule.
— Blake Farmer
Daytime Schedule:
o Monday— 1st and 2nd Grade ELA and Math Lessons
- 10:00 am CST – 1st Grade ELA
- 10:30 am CST – 1st Grade Math
- 11:00 am CST – 2nd Grade ELA
- 11:30 am CST – 2nd Grade Math
o Tuesday— 3rd and 4th Grade ELA and Math Lessons
- 10:00 am CST – 3rd Grade ELA
- 10:30 am CST – 3rd Grade Math
- 11:00 am CST – 4th Grade ELA
- 11:30 am CST – 4th Grade Math
o Wednesday— 5th and 6th Grade ELA and Math Lessons
- 10:00 am CST – 5th Grade ELA
- 10:30 am CST – 5th Grade Math
- 11:00 am CST – 6th Grade ELA
- 11:30 am CST – 6th Grade Math
o Thursday—1st and 2nd Grade ELA and Math Lessons
- 10:00 am CST – 1st Grade ELA
- 10:30 am CST – 1st Grade Math
- 11:00 am CST – 2nd Grade ELA
- 11:30 am CST – 2nd Grade Math
o Friday— 3rd and 4th Grade ELA and Math Lessons
- 10:00 am CST – 3rd Grade ELA
- 10:30 am CST – 3rd Grade Math
- 11:00 am CST – 4th Grade ELA
- 11:30 am CST – 4th Grade Math
Vanderbilt Offers Hotel Rooms For Workers Treating COVID-19 Patients
Friday, April 3 at 3:45 p.m.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is offering to put up health workers in nearby hotels.
The offer is primarily for employees treating coronavirus patients. Workers would pay a “low co-pay” for a hotel room within walking distance of the hospital.
“Staying in one of these rooms allows frontline employees to avoid long commutes, helps minimize potential spread of COVID-19 to employees’ family members (or other individuals with whom they share a residence), and gives them a nearby place to recharge,” VUMC said in a statement.
Vanderbilt has already had dozens of health workers test positive for COVID-19, which means they have to take at least 14 days off. The staffing crunch has forced the hospital to launch an emergency hiring effort.
Nashville-based HCA has also developed a partnership with national hotel chains to house employees working with coronavirus patients. While they have to figure out a way to handle guests potentially exposed to COVID-19, hotels are welcoming the business since their occupancy levels are at record lows.
— Blake Farmer
Sumner County Reports Eighth Fatality From COVID-19
Friday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m.
The state Department of Health has confirmed an eighth death from coronavirus in Sumner County, mainly due to outbreaks at two senior living complexes.
The state numbers updated Friday afternoon mean that Sumner County now leads the state in COVID-19 deaths for the moment. Davidson and Shelby counties, which are the state’s most populous, have six fatalities each.
Last weekend, residents of the Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing were evacuated with roughly 100 patients and 33 staff members testing positive for coronavirus. Sumner Regional Medical Center confirmed Friday five people have died.
Two residents of Highland Rim Terrace in Portland, which is subsidized housing for seniors, also died this week from COVID symptoms. It’s not immediately clear where the eighth death occurred.
— Blake Farmer
State Parks Close For 10 Days
Friday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m.
Two weeks ago, the head of Tennessee State Parks was encouraging people to visit amid the social distancing efforts. And people listened.
But in the last few days, the parks have had to discourage people from coming, even suggesting they try camping at home.
Friday afternoon, state parks decided to close for the next 10 days.
“This is a complete closure of facilities and access to all Tennessee State Parks and Designated State Natural Areas,” the agency said in a statement. Parks say all reservations will be refunded.
In support of @GovBillLee's Executive Order 23, we have made the difficult decision to close #tnstateparks effective April 4, 2020. We appreciate your support and ask that you "Do Your Part. Stay Apart." #tnstayapart For more information, visit https://t.co/JBmOOg08jY pic.twitter.com/5Y793MCdD7
— TN State Parks (@TennStateParks) April 3, 2020
— Blake Farmer
RCS Delays Graduation Ceremonies
Friday, April 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Rutherford County Schools is postponing graduation ceremonies for high school seniors. They were set for May at the Middle Tennessee State University Murphy Center.
The district says graduation will be rescheduled for later this summer, if permitted by public health guidelines.
The decision was made jointly by MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and RCS superintendent Bill Spurlock, and comes after MTSU canceled its spring ceremonies for university students.
“We know well the importance of these ceremonies, and the disappointment that will come from this decision,” McPhee and Spurlock said in a joint statement. “But the health and safety of our students, employees and community must be our first priority.”
— Damon Mitchell
Rutherford County Schools To Expand Pay and Meal Sites
Friday, April 3 at 12:57 p.m.
Rutherford County school officials are moving to expand paid leave to the district’s hourly employees. This includes custodians, secretaries and cafeteria workers.
They say they want to continue paying staff during school closures and, if necessary, throughout the rest of the year.
“The expectation is that staff that is deemed essential shall continue to work as normal. Staff able to work telework will provide services from home,” said Bill Spurlock, the director of Rutherford County Schools. “And staff that must be quarantined and are unable to telework will be supported for their return to work.”
Spurlock says he wants the district to be fully staffed when it reopens.
School leaders also say they’ll be expanding meal sites during the COVID-19 shutdown. The district currently has 10 food locations. They’ll be expanding to 26 feeding sites beginning next week through April 24.
— Damon Mitchell
Metro Schools Provides Laptops To High School Seniors
Friday, April 3 at 12:40 p.m.
Metro Nashville Public Schools distributed nearly 300 laptops to high school seniors this week. The district says even more laptops will be provided.
The move came after concerns about technology gaps that prevented the district from pursuing a distance learning curriculum during school closures.
“We must eliminate technology equity gaps that leaves many of our students without computers or internet access when schools are closed,” said Metro superintendent Adrienne Battle, during a virtual town hall last week. “We must see that our students experiencing the greatest needs are having those needs meet.”
The computers are for students who need access to credit recovery and other online programs to complete graduation requirements. High school seniors who need laptops can call (615) 269-5956.
The district will be closed through at least April 24, but Battle says it’s likely school closures will extend beyond that point.
— Damon Mitchell
Metro Health Leaders Urge People To Wear Masks
Friday, April 3 at 11:27 a.m.
Nashville health leaders are urging people to wear masks and other protective gear when traveling for essential activities — including grocery shopping or doctors’ visits.
The suggestion comes after the announcement of a sixth COVID-19 related death in Davidson County. Officials say the patient was a 60-year-old male with underlying health conditions.
Nashville now has 808 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 23 residents testing positive in the past 24 hours.
James Hildreth, president of Meharry Medical College, says there is evidence that four out of five individuals who test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 get it from people who aren’t showing symptoms.
“There is a reason why in China and South Korea, everyone one wears a mask when they’re out in public,” says Hildreth. “At least one major study shows … that [masks] cut the rate of transmission by 50%.”
With a nationwide shortage in personal protective equipment, Hildreth says masks can be made from bandanas and other cloth materials. But he told residents to make sure makeshift masks are being disinfected.
“Wash your hands when you take it off, and sterilize it or sanitize it if you’re going to use it repeatedly.” says Hildreth. “If possible, wash it in soap water.”
He says people can also microwave their masks in a plastic bag to kill fungus and bacteria.
— Damon Mitchell
Cookeville Nursing Home Identifies 44 Cases
Friday, April 3 at 7:17 a.m.
A nursing home in Cookeville is among the newest apparent hot spots in Tennessee’s coronavirus outbreak, as Signature HealthCARE of Putnam County reported 44 cases of COVID-19 among its patients and staff.
CEO Lee Rooney says the vast majority showed no symptoms and were only tested because a handful of other cases had been identified in the nursing home.
“You wouldn’t even know that they were positive,” he said at a press conference Thursday afternoon. “And that’s what’s scary right now. Staff and residents aren’t feeling sick.”
This comes one month after the devastating tornadoes in Putnam County. Local leaders are telling residents to brace themselves for even higher case counts and to heed the governor’s new stricter stay-at-home order.
The Cookeville nursing home will not be evacuated like the Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing was this week — which had over 100 residents and workers test positive for the virus. Rather, it will create a COVID unit in its facility that will have a separate entrance, dedicated staff and extra safety measures.
Meanwhile, residents of the Gallatin nursing home are now preparing to move back into the facility over the weekend. The Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing has had the largest outbreak of any nursing home in the state so far, and the facility has been deep cleaned over the last few days.
As of Thursday afternoon, the facility was working with state officials to get final approval to move patients back.
— Alexis Marshall
Fort Campbell Identifies First Service-Member Case
The first service member at Fort Campbell has tested positive for COVID-19. Officials say the soldier is isolating at an off-post residence.
One retiree and two family members have also tested positive. Those cases were related to travel.
After the latest case, the post commanders decided to cancel the Week of Eagles in mid-May. The event celebrates the 101st Airborne Division with troopers of past and present on base. Gyms and gathering places have also been closed, and commanders are urging service members to stop hosting barbecues and what they call “garage parties.”
— Alexis Marshall
Convention Centers Are Being Transformed Into Temporary Hospitals
Thursday, April 2 at 5:25 p.m.
Tennessee is turning some of its largest venues into emergency hospitals — including one of the most iconic spaces in Nashville.
Gov. Bill Lee said Thursday that the Music City Center in downtown Nashville will be turned into a “COVID-positive, non-acute, alternative healthcare facility.” It will serve coronavirus patients who need hospital care but aren’t in critical condition.
Similar facilities in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis were also identified today. Lee says FEMA’s recent approval of a disaster declaration for Tennessee paved the way for the initiative, which will be spearheaded by the Army Corps of engineers.
Once the massive convention center modified, the Music City Center will have more than 1,600 patient care spaces. A completion date wasn’t given, but the state is hoping to stay ahead of a surge in cases, which is projected in one study for April 19.
— Jason Moon Wilkins
Several Inmates At Nashville Jail Showing Symptoms
Thursday, April 2 at 4:50 p.m.
Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall says at least four or five people in the jail are isolating with coronavirus-like symptoms. But due to supply shortages, they have not been tested yet.
Hall made the announcement at a press conference Thursday afternoon about an unrelated matter — the upcoming opening the new Downtown Detention Center.
The maximum security jail was slated to open early this year. But the opening was delayed after prominent criminal justice advocate Alex Friedmann was arrested for breaking into the unfinished facility and planting weapons.
More than 30 law enforcement experts from the FBI and U.S. Custom and Border Protection helped with an exhaustive sweep, which they wrapped up last week.
Hall said he hopes to move inmates into the new building before a COVID-19 outbreak is underway, because it would allow the sheriff’s office to better handle such a situation.
“A building like this was built with things like that in mind. I surely don’t mean the pandemic. I’m talking more about the medical difficulties of the old jails we’ve always operated were basically built with big cells and big rooms,” Hall said. “This has many, many opportunities in it that we could use today, quite frankly. And so, the urgency is there, but, more importantly, making sure it was safe before we pushed the limit on opening the doors.”
Hall has been pushing other law enforcement agencies to help him reduce the jail population in order to prevent an outbreak. His office tells WPLN News that 1,054 people are currently detained in the county’s three jails, down more than 100 people from mid-March.
— Samantha Max
Governor Reverses Course, Orders Residents To Stay Home
Thursday, April 2 at 2:38 p.m.
Amid mounting pressure from medical professionals and city leaders, Gov. Bill Lee is requiring Tennesseans to stay home unless they are traveling for essential activities.
Lee said in a statement Thursday afternoon that he decided to issue a new executive order after traffic and cellphone mobility data revealed that movement around the state has been on the rise in recent days, even after he issued a less strict “Safer at Home” recommendation.
“The month of April stands to be an extremely tough time for our state as we face the potential for a surge in COVID-19 cases,” Lee said. “Every Tennesseans must take this seriously, remain at home and ensure we can save lives.”
The executive order will remain in effect through 11:59 p.m. on April 14.
— Samantha Max
Firefighters Start Getting Sick; Departments Ramp Up Protective Measures
Thursday, April 2 at 1:56 p.m.
Firefighters in both Nashville and Clarksville have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days, prompting fire departments to take extra measures to keep employees safe.
Chief William Swan said at a press briefing this morning that the Nashville Fire Department has taken measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
“We are looking at our employees as our number one asset, and we’re encouraging them to do the things that they should to protect theirself,” Swan said. “And we’ve got an individual plan, each department, of how to try to capture if our workforce goes down.”
Swan said he’s reached out to neighboring departments for support, but that everyone has been affected by the pandemic. Swan said it’s difficult for firefighters to practice social distancing, because employees are “a family” and work in close proximity to another.
But neighboring Franklin announced today that it’s opening five temporary satellite fire stations, so that employees can spread out. Three will be housed in schools and two in other city facilities. No more than four personnel will be present at any given time.
— Samantha Max
COVID-19 Response Fund Raises More Than $3 Million
Thursday, April 2 at 1:03 p.m.
Mayor John Cooper announced today that Nashville’s COVID-19 Response Fund has raised more than $3.2 million to support people impacted by the economic downturn from the coronavirus pandemic.
Ingram Charities made a $100,000 donation today, joining the Frist Foundation, Tennessee Titans, Music City Center and many of the city’s other major philanthropies that have contributed to the fund.
United Way of Greater Nashville has already allocated $300,000 to community organizations working directly with those in need. A second round of grants will be distributed starting tomorrow.
Organizations can still apply for funding, which will be awarded on a rolling basis.
— Samantha Max
Chattanooga Issues Shelter In Place Order
Thursday, April 2 at 12:41 p.m.
Chattanooga has joined the list of Tennessee cities mandating that residents stay home.
Mayor Andy Berke signed an executive order today, restricting all non-essential travel, suspending access to city-owned parks, closing non-essential businesses and closing child care, except to serve the kids of essential personnel.
“I know how disruptive and painful these actions will be for many, many Chattanoogans but the fact is that the coronavirus is still infecting far too many people in our city far too quickly,” Berke said in a statement. “Medical experts are telling us already that this disease has the potential to completely overwhelm our local hospital systems in the next several weeks. The health of our neighbors is at stake.”
The order extends an earlier mandate for some businesses to close. Most of the Tennessee’s largest cities, including Memphis, Nashville and Clarksville, have already issued “Safer at Home” mandates. Gov. Bill Lee has chosen thus far not to heed calls for a statewide shelter-in-place order.
— Samantha Max
Nashville Councilmembers Ask Landlords To ‘Show Grace’
Thursday, April 2 at 11:16 a.m.
The Metro Council’s Affordable Housing Committee has written an open letter to remind landlords that they can’t change locks, turn off utilities or empty belongings from their tenants’ homes without permission from the courts.
Most court proceedings are on pause for the moment, including evictions. But the council members say they’ve been hearing reports of an uptick in unauthorized activity by landlords.
“Nashvillians have been hit hard by this sudden economic slowdown. Many are still recovering from the impact of March 3’s deadly tornado,” the council members wrote. “We ask that Nashville’s landlords be understanding of these unprecedented circumstances and show grace and kindness to one another as we work through this crisis and return to normalcy.”
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office announced last month that it would not serve eviction notices during the coronavirus outbreak.
— Samantha Max
Updates From Metro Daily Briefing
Thursday, April 2 at 11:13 a.m.
Now that Nashville’s “Safer at Home” order has been amended, Mayor John Cooper announced this morning that both individuals and businesses will face penalties if they violate social distancing measures. Those could range from citations and fines to padlocking storefronts.
The announcement comes as Davidson County’s COVID-19 case count has risen to 785, with 112 people testing positive in the past 24 hours. More than 60 of those individuals are health care workers.
A 1-month-old has also tested positive in the past day — the youngest patient in the city so far. And a 73-year-old has died, marking the fifth death in Davidson County.
Dr. James Hildreth, president of Meharry Medical College, said many people have been drawing parallels between the COVID-19 outbreak and the 1918 pandemic, which infected about 500 million. But he says there’s one key difference now that could save lives: modern science.
“We have the benefit of tools, technology, experience and expertise to allow us to make the outcome of this pandemic very different than the one in 1918,” Hildreth said. “In order for that to be the case, we must simply trust the science and models that are the basis for the things we have [been] asked to do.”
New estimates from the University of Washington’s COVID-19 computer model reveal that deaths in Tennessee could peak on April 19, and that the state could face a hospital bed shortage of 7,806.
The governor’s Unified Command announced Wednesday that it’s working to set up alternative care sites around the state. Alex Jahangir, chair of Metro’s Coronavirus Task Force, says the city will play an instrumental role in the state’s initiative.
“We’re going to make sure people in our region are taken care of,” he says. “This is not just the state in isolation. Regional experts are involved.”
— Samantha Max
Projection: More Than 3,000 Tennesseans Could Die
Thursday, April 2 at 8:46 a.m.
A widely cited state-by-state COVID-19 projection is painting an increasingly severe picture for Tennessee.
The report now indicates that 3,422 Tennesseans could die, including 165 on a peak date of April 19. Just five days ago, the projection anticipated around 1,500 deaths in the state.
The outlook has also greatly shifted on hospital bed capacity. Whereas Tennessee initially was considered to have adequate beds, the worsening numbers now point to a shortage of more than 7,000 beds — as hospitalizations could be roughly double what the state has available.
The projections come from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Researchers use statistical models that factor in the current death rates in China, Italy and the U.S., as well is the age makeup of each state, and they include a range of uncertainty in their numbers and charts.
— Tony Gonzalez
Unemployment Skyrocketing During Pandemic
Thursday, April 2 at 8:03 a.m.
Unemployment continues to rise exponentially in Tennessee, and across the nation.
In the latest week — reported this morning — more than 94,000 Tennesseans filed for unemployment. That’s more than twice as many as the prior week, which had already set a staggering all-time record.
And Tennessee may not be feeling the full extent of the pandemic just yet. Cases are expected to peak mid-month.
Job losses have been disproportionately felt in fields where one can’t work from home — like restaurants, hospitality and tourism.
The 130,000 Tennesseans who have filed for unemployment in the last two weeks join nearly 10 million other Americans in a nationwide job loss that is unmatched since the Great Depression.
— Rachel Iacovone
Corrections Staff Test Positive for COVID-19
Thursday, April 2 at 6:41 a.m.
The coronavirus outbreak that Nashville’s criminal justice system has been bracing for could soon be here. Two corrections staffers have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent hours — one at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and one at the Juvenile Detention Center.
The sheriff’s office employee worked in a control room and did not have direct contact with inmates, according to a statement from Sheriff Daron Hall. The staffer — who last reported to work Sunday — is over 60 years old and currently hospitalized.
The sheriff’s office says it is notifying and isolating other workers who may have been exposed.
File WPLN NewsThe Davidson County Sheriff’s Office has reported a jail employee has the coronavirus.
Also yesterday, an employee of Youth Opportunity Investment, the company that runs the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center, tested positive.
Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway said in a statement that the officer hasn’t been at the facility since clocking out at 6 a.m. Saturday morning and is under self-quarantine. Everyone who has had director contact with the employee is being notified, including the youth, their parents and their attorneys.
The facility will now implement its pandemic plan, which includes screening all staff and vendors for symptoms before entering, isolating any youth who display symptoms and bulking up on Gatorade and protective gear.
The state’s prison system also announced a coronavirus scare last night.
Three inmates at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex may have come into contact with a non-state employee who has tested positive for COVID-19, the Tennessee Department of Correction said in a statement.
The prisoners have been quarantined, though they’re not showing any symptoms at this time.
— Samantha Max
Tennessee Prepares For Surge In Cases Of COVID-19
Wednesday, April 1 at 4:45 p.m.
Tennessee could see a surge in COVID-19 cases in about three weeks.
Gov. Bill Lee told reporters Wednesday that, according to a computer model out of the University of Washington, Tennessee will reach a “peak resource use” on April 19.
“Our strategy here, however, is to kind of plan for the worse,” Lee said. “But we’ve taken the models that are the most conservative and most aggressive and we’ve set our sights on bridging those gaps.”
Lee anticipated there will be a maximum need for 7,000 more beds than what’s usually available.
The governor said the Army Corps of Engineers is helping the state create a plan for this situation. The state is also searching for ballrooms, hotels and dorms that could serve as emergency hospitals.
Meanwhile, Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said contact tracing in the state for coronavirus is facing some challenges.
“As the number of cases continue to grow, the ability to do detailed contact tracing does diminish,” Piercey said. “At least in a timely fashion.”
The commissioner said that each positive case requires the state to trace 20 to 100 contacts. The process is very time intensive and it is carried out by Department of Health employees.
Piercey said the state will continue to trace every case, but it will give priority to those cases involving vulnerable populations.
— Sergio Martínez-Beltrán
Nashville Performing Arts Community Comes Together To Ask For Support
Wednesday, April 1 at 4:30 p.m.
Local performing arts organizations released a statement of unity today, asking for community support as performance seasons have been canceled.
In the statement, Todd Morgan, managing director at Studio Tenn, writes that the community can help by donating money, advocating for government relief and connecting with performing arts online, where many are continuing to share content.
“We believe that the arts are a necessary part of life but especially in times like these when we turn to the arts to sustain us, entertain us, and help us make sense of the moment we find ourselves in.”
The statement was cosigned by OZ Arts Nashville, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Children’s Theatre, Nashville Opera, Nashville Repertory Theatre, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Nashville Symphony, Studio Tenn Theatre Company and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
— Samantha Zern
MTSU Confirms Second Coronavirus Case, Cancels Commencement
Wednesday, April 1 at 3:46 p.m.
Middle Tennessee State University confirmed today a second student case of coronavirus on campus. The student formerly lived in a “mostly unoccupied” sorority house and is now in isolation in a specially designated private apartment on campus.
In an update to the community, MTSU President Sidney McPhee announced that the university is canceling its spring commencement ceremony, originally slated for early May. Spring 2020 graduates will have the opportunity to walk in summer or winter graduation ceremonies later this year.
“I continue to be amazed at how much we have been able to accomplish and how well we are all adapting to these disruptions,” McPhee wrote in her message to the university. “The positive attitude and adaptability demonstrated by our Blue Raider family continues to serve us well.”
McPhee’s message also noted that the number of on-campus employees is being reduced in accordance with Governor Bill Lee’s “safer at home” order, and that first-year orientation events, scheduled for May, will move online.
— Samantha Zern
Safer At Home Order Extended, Amended
Wednesday, April 1 at 1:54 p.m.
Nashville is extending the “Safer at Home” order until April 24, as coronavirus cases continue to rise. A fourth person died from the illness yesterday, and the city now has 673 confirmed cases.
In addition to the extension, the city amended the “Safer at Home” order to clarify the list of essential businesses and add more details about social distancing best practice.
Grocery stores and other essential businesses are being asked to reserve shopping hours for vulnerable groups, to use social distance markers in checkout lines and to limit customer occupancy. Many grocery stores already implemented these protocols on their own.
The order is being enforced by police officers and public health officials. Metro government officials say they have received hundreds of reports of order violations.
Mayor John Cooper says enforcement of the order thus far has relied on awareness and warnings, but the city is prepared to issue misdemeanor citations and fines, as well as temporary injunctions and padlock orders for noncompliant businesses.
Chief Steve Anderson said that officers are only relying on citations and arrest when absolutely necessary.
“We’ve been very reluctant to criminalize what is otherwise lawful behavior, but we’re at the point we need to step in and address those few that are not complying with the orders to stay at home or to not gather in places and in groups and engage in activities that could spread the virus.”
The city encourages residents to report order violations to 311 or hubNashville.
— Samantha Zern
Dolly Parton Donates $1 Million to Vanderbilt
Wednesday, April 1 at 11:54 a.m.
Dolly Parton announced via Twitter that she will be making a $1 million donation to Vanderbilt toward coronavirus cure research.
Vanderbilt reported last week that researchers from the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center are working to identify and analyze antibodies from the blood fo COVID-19 survivors in an effort to develop an antibody-based treatment. The researchers’ goal is to be ready for human clinical trials by the summer.
Parton wrote that she was informed by her friend, Dr. Naji Abumrad, a Vanderbilt surgeon, of the university’s advances in coronavirus research. Her friendship with Abumrad played a key role in the RadioLab podcast Dolly Parton’s America, which aired late last year.
— Samantha Zern
Metro Police Officers Are In Self-Quarantine
Wednesday, April 1 at 11:53 a.m.
At least 25 Metro Police officers are self-quarantining awaiting COVID-19 test results. And police Chief Steve Anderson said two officers were exposed last night and are currently quarantined for 14 days.
Anderson says safety precautions are being implemented throughout the department and that he is watching how other police departments across the country are keeping officers and the public safe.
“As long as our shortage in terms of people in self-quarantine is what it is and remains stable, I think we’ll continue to be overly cautious,” he said Wednesday.
High engagement with many people increases the likelihood of coronavirus transmission.
In Nashville, professions like law enforcement, healthcare, retail and other essential jobs have seen reports of coronavirus spreading among employees.
Officials said today that a fourth resident — and 83-year-old man — had died from COVID-19, and the city’s case count stands at 673. To date, 10.2% of Nashville tests have been positive.
— Samantha Zern
Chamber Of Commerce Advises Manufacturers To Make Medical Supplies
Wednesday, April 1 at 9:24 a.m.
The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce announced an initiative Wednesday morning to guide manufacturers in making high-demand medical supplies during the coronavirus pandemic.
“TN Creators Respond” connects private businesses with resources to produce, store and distribute personal protective equipment to healthcare providers.
Some area manufacturers had already begun making equipment. News Channel 5 reports Nissan is using 3D printers in its Middle Tennessee plants to make protective face shields. The company says it expects to make 3,000 by April 3.
Tennessee’s community and technical colleges have a similar 3D printing effort underway.
— Alexis Marshall
Tennessee Will List COVID Deaths By County
Wednesday, April 1 at 8:51 a.m.
Tennessee will soon release information about the county location of the state’s coronavirus deaths.
As the fatality county reached 23 on Tuesday, pressured was mounting on state officials to share specifics.
State Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said the state had to get special permission under health privacy laws, and will begin sharing Friday.
“The data is a very high source of interest and we want to be as transparent as possible while giving accurate and appropriate information.”
The administration had cited legal reasons for withholding information that has been common in other states. Some Tennessee cities have openly shared death tolls as well.
The state is also now sharing counts of recovered patients and negative test results by county.
It’s the second time the state has altered what is shares about COVID-19.
Officials initially withheld county-by-county tallies of confirmed cases, but then made those available after pressure from open government advocates and Democratic officials — and repeated questions from journalists.
— Tony Gonzalez
Tennessee Governor Weighs In On Kentucky Comparison
Wednesday, April 1 at 8:21 a.m.
Gov. Bill Lee has responded to a criticism leveled at the state by the governor of Kentucky. At his briefing Tuesday, Lee said comparing states isn’t productive, but he defended Tennessee’s approach to slowing the spread of the disease.
“We test our citizens three times more than the state of Kentucky. I’m not criticizing that, I’m just saying we know a whole lot more about our population because we’re testing so readily in this state,” he said.
Lee says he has spoken to 40 different governors during the crisis, but not Kentucky’s Andy Beshear.
The day before, Beshear announced a state-wide ban on non-essential travel to a neighboring state, including Tennessee. Violators would have to self-quarantine for 14 days upon returning.
Kentucky also says it will be placing coronavirus patients on house arrest if they refuse to isolate themselves.
— Rachel Iacovone
Clarksville Elevates Shelter-At-Home Order
Wednesday, April 1 at 7:37 a.m.
Clarksville has joined Tennessee’s largest cities in elevating a shelter-at-home order that goes beyond the governor’s guidance.
Clarksville and Montgomery County had already ordered nonessential businesses to close. Both mayors are now directing residents to stay home except for essential activities for the next week.
Essential activities are defined in the orders as healthcare, public safety, utilities, government, media, food production and distribution, vehicle fuel and support, and banking.
All gatherings are discouraged, and those of more than 10 are prohibited.
— Tony Gonzalez
HCA Executives Cut Their Own Pay, Trying To Avoid Layoffs
Tuesday, March 31 at 5:50 p.m.
Every hospital is trying to manage increased demand to treat COVID-19 patients with the sudden drop in elective procedures, which tend to generate more revenue.
Today HCA, the largest hospital chain in the country, announced several cash-saving efforts in an attempt to avoid furloughs and layoffs.
“Over the past few weeks, we have experienced significant drops in patient volume as a result of COVID-19,” CEO Sam Hazen wrote in a letter to employees. “Many of our outpatient facilities, clinics, and departments have closed. These circumstances have created situations where we do not have enough patients to support our workforce.”
HCA is not laying off workers, but those who can’t be put in a new role within the company will be eligible for “pandemic pay” which gives them 70% of their base salary through mid-May, which the hospital chain expects to restart elective procedures.
A similar offer is being made at corporate offices in Nashville since many projects have now been delayed or cancelled. Nationwide, HCA employs 270,000 people including more than 90,000 nurses.
To pitch in, senior leaders are taking a 30% pay cut until the pandemic passes. Directors have also given up their compensation for the year. And Hazen, who made nearly $27 million last year, said he plans to donate all of his compensation for the next two months to the company’s charitable fund that supports HCA employees.
“Many companies have had to use furloughs or even layoffs to deal with the dire economic consequences caused by this pandemic. We are not in that financial position and hope to avoid having to take these measures,” Hazen wrote.
As part of the change in benefits amid the pandemic, HCA says it will also continue to pay anyone who is quarantined, even if they didn’t catch COVID-19 at work.
Hospital employees will also get scrub laundry service for their work clothes and the option of staying in a hotel instead of going home. HCA says it has worked out deals with four major hotel chains.
HCA is also initiating a “universal masking policy” in its 184 hospitals, taking effect today.
— Blake Farmer
CMA Fest Canceled, Citing Coronavirus Concerns
Tuesday, March 31 at 12:10 p.m.
Nashville’s famed CMA Fest is canceled due to concerns around Covid-19, The Country Music Association announced Tuesday. In an emailed statement, the organization said that “after careful deliberation, and in following the latest guidance from national, state and local authorities, we are sad to announce that CMA Fest will not take place in 2020.”
The annual festival was scheduled for June 4-7, 2020. This is the first time in the festival’s 48-year history that it hasn’t gone on as planned.
The statement went on the say that “As the world is still greatly affected by the spread of COVID-19, we cannot in good conscience risk the health and wellbeing of our fans, artists, staff and Country Music community.”
Ticketholders will be granted a refund upon request if purchased directly from CMA Fest Box or Ticketmaster. Others should contact their point of purchase. 4-day passes can be applied to CMA fest 2021.
— Meribah Knight
Nashville’s Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Up 98 In The Last Day, Officials Say
Tuesday, March 31 at 10:23 a.m
Davidson County now has 541 confirmed cases of Covid-19, an increase of 98 in the past day, according to Metro Nashville’s daily briefing. The ages of those infected range from 2 months to 84 years. Fourteen people are hospitalized and three people have died from the virus, officials said.
So far more than 5,000 people have been tested for Covid-19 and 9.7% have come back positive for the virus, according to city data.
Speaking at the daily briefing, Sharon Roberson, president and CEO of YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, said calls to its domestic violence hotline are up 55% in the first two weeks of March, a significant spike compared to this time last year.
“And they have continued to rise,” she said. “A 55% spike in the number of calls we’ve received is very significant.”
Nashville’s heath director, Dr. Michael Caldwell, said the city is particularly focused on stopping the spread of Coronavirus to vulnerable populations in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Over the weekend a nursing home in Gallatin had more than 100 residents and 33 staff members test positive for the virus.
“I want you to know that it is the highest priority of me and the mayor to make sure that these nursing homes, these assisted living facilities, have everything that they need to protect their residents,” Caldwell said.
Measures being implemented at such facilities, Caldwell said, are visitor restrictions and testing all employees on every shift.
— Meribah Knight
More Than 100 Test Positive For COVID-19 In Gallatin Nursing Home
Tuesday, March 31 at 9:38 a.m.
State health officials are disinfecting a Gallatin nursing home after roughly 100 residents tested positive for Covid-19. Two have died.
Thirty-three staffers were also confirmed with COVID-19.
Yesterday, ambulances lined up across the street from the Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Health to transport the remainder of its patients to area hospitals so the complex can be disinfected over the next two days.
“Our mission since the beginning of this global pandemic has been to be as proactive as possible, and we will continue to do so,” the nursing home said in a statement to patients and their families late Sunday.
Local officials say the nursing home initially downplayed the severity of the outbreak. But state officials say they have so far found no evidence of wrongdoing.
“It’s truly a horrendous situation,” Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown said Sunday afternoon. “This nursing home proves how easily this virus spreads.”
Nursing homes are particularly vulnerable since every resident is at high risk of complications and living in close quarters.
And now more facilities are disclosing confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The Heritage in Brentwood tells WSMV an employee has the coronavirus. And in Putnam Country, Fox 17 reports Signature Healthcare says a patient has contracted the virus.
— Blake Farmer and Meribah Knight
Vanderbilt Calls For Temporary Nursing Help
Tuesday, March 31 at 8:07 a.m.
As more employees from Vanderbilt University Medical Center test positive for COVID-19, the hospital is putting out call for temporary nurses.
The hospital said Monday that it has 49 staffers self-isolating.
On Tuesday, the medical center said it was creating a recruiting hotline to find temporary paid help. Available nurses can text the word “NURSE” to the number 26232 to start the process.
The hospital says it’s ready to train a range of skill levels, including non-licensed students, and that they can expect to work for at least six weeks.
According to updated numbers provided by the hospital, VUMC has tested 10,000 people and 26 are hospitalized.
As the outbreak spreads, it is reaching across professions — and some have gone public. Those include a Nashville police officer, a staff member in Gov. Bill Lee’s office and a TSA agent at Nashville’s airport.
— Tony Gonzalez
86 Vanderbilt Hospital Employees Have Tested Positive Since Outbreak
Monday, March 30 at 6 p.m.
Eighty-six employees from Vanderbilt University Medical Center have tested positive for COVID-19 since the beginning of the outbreak, as of this afternoon.
The hospital told WPLN News that 37 of the employees were past the mandatory quarantine period, and that others were being tracked by its Occupational Health team. Forty-nine employees are self-isolating.
“Some employees have now recovered and are through the quarantine period and back to work,” said Kylie Avery, a spokesperson for the hospital. “Others continue to be at home self-isolating.”
The medical center has tested thousands of people since the beginning of the pandemic. Last week, several Vanderbilt physicians joined other medical workers in petitioning Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to implement a mandatory stay-at-home order to prevent further spread of the virus.
This afternoon Lee issued a statewide order closing all non-essential businesses in Tennessee, but stopped short of a requiring individuals to stay at home.
— Damon Mitchell
Metro Schools Cancel Prom, Other Senior Activities
Monday, March 30 at 4:35 p.m.
Metro Nashville Public Schools is cancelling prom and other activities for high school seniors. Tennessee school facilities are expected to remain closed until at least April 24. But the district says Nashville will likely remain closed beyond that point.
School leaders say they’re working with the state Board of Education to solidify senior graduation requirements, and that the district won’t be required to hold make up days.
They also say they’re working to provide opportunities for students who are missing credits and concerned about graduation requirements.
During a town hall this afternoon, Metro Schools director Adrienne Battle told students to stay engaged throughout the process.
“As we’re rolling out opportunities for you to continue to grow, I encourage you to really take advantage of those opportunities.” said Battle. “We really need you to stay in tune with us so at the point we resume school you’re ready to go.”
As of now, high school juniors will still be required to take ACT exams. The district is asking teachers to maintain contact with students at least twice per week while schools are closed.
— Damon Mitchell
Tennessee Students Receive Additional Learning Support
Monday, March 30 at 1:40 p.m.
The Tennessee Department of Education and the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation are offering additional support to the state’s youngest students during school closures.
Education leaders are partnering with ReadyRosie, an online learning platform, to provide parents with a birth-to-third-grade education toolkit.
“As we continue to navigate these challenging times, we are excited to provide all Tennessee families with access to this incredible platform to help them create rich learning experiences at home,” said Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn.
The announcement comes after a state-wide partnership with PBS to provide TV instructions to students, beginning April 6.
Schwinn says the goal is to provide simple, at-home instructional activities that allow parents to bond with their children. ReadyRoise will provide lessons in math, reading, health and well-being. Activities will be in both English and Spanish.
“As we respond in ways that continue to fulfill our mission to support the children and families we serve in Tennessee, we are excited to partner with ReadyRosie to provide families with quality online resources to help children develop early literacy skills through reading and learning together,” said GELF President James Pond.
The platform will be available from April 1 to Sept. 1. Families can register for free at www.readyrosie.com/tn/.
— Damon Mitchell
John Prine Still Critical, But Now Stable
Monday, March 30 at 12:39 p.m.
Nashville songwriting legend John Prine remains in critical condition with symptoms from COVID-19. This morning, his wife Fiona tweeted that her husband is “stable” but continued to ask for “love and prayers” from his friends and fans. She contracted the disease less than two weeks ago and has since recovered.
I have recovered from Covid-19. We are humbled by the outpouring of love for me and John and our precious family. He is stabile. Please continue to send your amazing Love and prayers. Sing his songs. Stay home and wash hands. John loves you. I love you
— Fiona Whelan Prine (@FionaPrine) March 30, 2020
Prine went into the hospital on Thursday and was placed on a ventilator Sunday.
His age, 73, and his medical history, including two rounds of cancer, make him high risk for complications.
Yesterday’s news elicited a massive outpouring from fellow artists and celebrities from Kacey Musgraves to Roger Waters. Many shared covers of his songs like Joan Baez, who dedicated “Hello In There” to John and Fiona.
Until the coronavirus crisis, Prine was extremely active and having one of the most successful periods of his career.
His 2018 album, “The Tree of Forgiveness,” was his highest charting ever and earned three Grammy nominations. Earlier this year, the Grammys gave Prine a Lifetime Achievement Award.
— Jason Moon Wilkins
Hospitalizations Tick Up, With More Expected
Monday, March 30 at 12:05 p.m.
Nashville health officials say they’ve been collaborating with state and federal partners to expand the city’s hospital capacity.
Alex Jahangir, chair of the Metro Board of Health, said 14 people are now hospitalized, and that the city will need more hospital beds, staff and supplies later.
He expects a jump in cases as testing ramps up, now that the city is opening its COVID-19 testing centers.
“We’re concerned that over the next several weeks, a growing wave of COVID-19 patients will require hospitalization. And perhaps intensive care treatment, putting additional stress on our health care system.”
Jahangir is encouraging residents to abide by Metro’s stay-at-home order to lessen the load on health care resources.
Nashville announced 49 additional cases during a press briefing Monday morning pushing its total over 400.
— Damon Mitchell
Metro Opens Community Testing Sites
Monday, March 30 at 8:55 a.m.
Nashville is opening its community testing sites today.
The city’s COVID-19 Task Force is encouraging residents to call 615-862-7777 if they are exhibiting symptoms. The hotline, which began taking calls last week, operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in English and Spanish.
If symptoms are concerning, callers may then be directed to visit an assessment center, where they can be screened and possibly tested for the virus. Thus far, the majority of Tennessee’s 20,000 coronavirus tests have been processed private labs.
The first two centers open Monday at Nissan Stadium and Meharry Medical College; a third location will open Wednesday at the former Kmart in Antioch. The addresses are:
- Nissan Stadium, Lot “N,” 1 Titans Way, Nashville, TN 37213
- Meharry Medical College, 918 21st Ave North. Nashville, TN 37208
- Former Kmart (Opening April 1), 2491 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37217
Once open, the centers will operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The testing sites are open to Nashville residents only.
— Damon Mitchell
Nearly 100 More Cases Confirmed At Gallatin Nursing Home
Sunday, March 29 at 6:45 p.m.
Every patient and staff member is being tested for coronavirus at the Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing. And so far, 59 additional patients have confirmed cases. That brings the total number of residents with confirmed cases to roughly 100. But state officials say 33 staffers also tested positive.
The nursing home says none of them were showing symptoms of COVID-19, but all the patients are being transferred by ambulance to Sumner Regional Medical Center. The employees are isolating at home.
The state’s newly-formed Unified Command has stepped in. They and the Tennessee Guard helped organize mass testing over the weekend. They’re also helping to disinfect the facility.
“The health emergency at the private Gallatin facility necessitated quick decision-making on the part of state and local emergency professionals to act for the well-being of these residents,” Gov. Bill Lee’s office said in a statement.
State officials are asking nursing homes to report any cases as soon as they are identified.
— Blake Farmer
John Prine In Critical Condition, Joe Diffie Dies
Sunday, March 29 at 4:45 p.m.
The family of Americana icon John Prine says he’s in critical condition after being hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms on Thursday.
They say on Twitter that Prine was intubated on Saturday.
“This is hard news for us to share, but so many of you have loved and supported John over the years, and we wanted you to know, and give you the chance to send more of that love and support now,” the Prine family said.
Prine has continued to perform, even at age 73 and despite his recent bout with lung cancer. Both his age and medical history make him at elevated risk of complications from COVID-19.
Prine released his first album in 1971 and is known for songs like “Angel from Montgomery” and “Paradise.” He’s also written songs for other artists, including Johnny Cash and Bette Midler.
Earlier on Sunday, the publicist for country music singer Joe Diffie announced he died from COVID-19 complications, just two days after being hospitalized.
— Blake Farmer
Another Sumner Co. Senior Living Complex Reports Multiple Cases
Sunday, March 29 at 2:45 p.m.
The Highland Rim Terrace apartments in Sumner County have been locked down after three residents tested positive for COVID-19.
Portland Mayor Mike Callis said in a Facebook update that two residents have died in the last week, though it’s unclear if they had confirmed cases of COVID-19. Another is currently hospitalized.
Highland Rim Terrace is a government-subsidized complex for senior citizens.
“This just highlights how difficult this can be for residents who are older and have underlying health issues,” Callis said.
On Friday night, 24 patients from a Sumner County nursing home were evacuated to the hospital in Gallatin because of coronavirus concerns. One has since died.
— Blake Farmer
Statewide Fatality Count Raised To Seven, But County Data Still Withheld
Sunday, March 29 at 2:15 p.m.
Tennessee health officials reported another fatality Sunday, raising the statewide total to seven. But state authorities still refuse to disclose the county of each coronavirus death, as many other states have.
Tennessee Department of Health spokesperson Shelley Walker tells the Knoxville News Sentinel that the county is being withheld to protect the privacy of patients who die.
The Tennessee Coalition for Open Government has been arguing for more transparency.
“At a time like this, we think the public has an overriding need to understand the location of COVID-19 deaths for public safety reasons,” executive director Deborah Fisher said in a statement, calling the identification of individual patients “a leap of imagination.”
State health officials have altered their identification procedures due to pushback during this pandemic. At first, state decided not to report the counties of confirmed cases. But the state is disclosing much more information after calls for more transparency.
On Sunday afternoon, the Department of Health reported an increase to 1,537 confirmed cases, with more than 20,000 people tested statewide. The state also has had 133 hospitalizations, though those are not broken down by county either.
Because the state’s largest counties operate their own health departments, they have been disclosing more information.
Metro Nashville Public Health announced an additional 18 cases on Sunday, bringing the local total to 394. Davidson County has two deaths and 14 hospitalizations.
— Blake Farmer
New Study Predicts 1,551 Coronavirus Deaths In Tennessee
Sunday, March 29 at 12:15 p.m.
A study published in recent days out of the University of Washington shows an alarming trajectory of deaths related to COVID-19 in Tennessee, although it does contain one bright spot for the state.
The study out of the school’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts that there will be 1,551 deaths in Tennessee, including a peak of 51 deaths on April 21. However, the study did predict that the state will have enough hospital beds to care for the sick, using about 5,000 of its 7,800 available beds.
More: Read the full study here.
To come up with the numbers, researchers created statistical models that factored in the current death rates in China, Italy and the U.S., as well is the age makeup of each state. It should be noted that all statistical models have some degree of uncertainty.
Nationwide, the study predicts, coronavirus will hit a peak in the second week of April.
“Demand for health services rapidly increases in the last week of March and first 2 weeks of April and then slowly declines
through the rest of April and May, with demand continuing well into June,” the researchers wrote.
— Emily Siner
CoreCivic Prison Employee Tests Positive, Tennessee Inmates Isolated
Sunday, March 29 at 9:45 a.m.
Brentwood-based CoreCivic says it learned on Saturday of an employee who tested positive for COVID-19 — its first in Tennessee. That employee, from its facility in Wayne County, is currently hospitalized.
“Efforts are underway to notify other employees or contractors that may have been in contact with the individual who tested positive,” spokesman Ryan Gustin said in a written statement.
Currently, 35 inmates have been quarantined in a separate housing unit. The private prison operator says it is working closely when the Tennessee departments of health and correction.
The South Central Correctional Center in Clifton is a medium-security prison with 1,700 inmates.
CoreCivic says that it has already been isolating inmates deemed high-risk and working with health officials to conduct testing in its prisons and jails.
“We also encourage the practice of social distancing, when feasible, for all individuals within our facilities,” Gustin said.
The Tennessee Department of Correction has not disclosed any other positive tests for COVID-19 in state prisons. Like most correctional agencies, the state has suspended visitation for inmates.
TDOC has been using its social media platforms to encourage officers to continue coming to work.
“We cannot hit ‘pause’ on our mission to enhance public safety,” TDOC told employees on Facebook. “We must still be diligent in our efforts to keep Tennessee’s communities safe.”
*The subhead has been updated since CoreCivic did not explicitly identify the employee as a guard.
— Blake Farmer
See other recent updates, including the partial evacuation of a nursing home in Gallatin, in our previous live blog.
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