After several days with new case numbers under 100, Nashville has again risen above the century mark the last two days. However, new confirmed cases continue to be significantly lower than during the city's earlier peak. Despite controversial CDC guidance that some exposed but asymptomatic individuals need not be tested, Nashville will continue to test those who are asymptomatic. In fact, Nashville has committed to continuing to provide free tests to anyone who wants to be tested as the city has done for months.
In other Nashville news, the city will move to a less restrictive phase of reopening beginning Sept. 1st. Bars will be allowed to add a little more capacity, transportainment operations can restart, event/wedding/funeral venues can reopen at one-third capacity but capped at 125 people, and restaurants can resume bar and counter service.
Metro Nashville
As of 9:30 today, the city reported 25,715 confirmed cases, an increase of 126 over the last 24 hours. There are currently 1,841 active cases in Nashville, 23,639 individuals who have recovered and 129 active hospitalizations (down 7 from Wednesday). With 235 deaths (up 4 from Wednesday), the city has a case fatality rate of 0.91%.
In Davidson County, 213,576 tests have been administered with a positive rate of 12% (down from 12.4% at the beginning of August). Of note, the 7-day average for positive tests is 9.1% as of today (down from 10.8% last Friday).
On the trend lines, Nashville continues to have 5 out of 8 in the green with the remaining three in the yellow. With a goal for transmission to be less than 1.0, the city has a current transmission rate of 0.83, keeping the trend line in the green. The 14-day case rate is also in the green with a decreasing trend in new cases. Public health and testing capacity remain in the green, as they have throughout.
As of 9:30 am this morning, hospital floor bed capacity remained in the yellow with 13% availability (down from 17% availability Wednesday). ICU beds also remained in the yellow with 17% capacity (up from 11% Wednesday). The goal for both hospital and ICU bed capacity is 20%.
The New Cases per 100K Residents remains in the yellow this week. The goal of the seven-day rolling average is to be at 10 or below. Currently, Nashville sits at 17.5 on this metric (down from 19.1 on Wednesday and 22.6 last Friday). The goal for the 7-Day Positivity Rate is to see a figure at 10% or less. Currently, Nashville has made it into the green with a rate of 9.1% as of 9:30 this morning.
More detailed data is available on the Metro Dashboard. Click here for details.
Nashville remains in a modified Phase 2 of the reopening plan. Masks are required in Nashville, and a number of other surrounding counties also have mandatory mask regulations. Additionally, public health officials continue to ask (beg) residents to be vigilant in maintaining social distancing measures, as well as to go out as little as possible, wash hands frequently and stay home if ill. Metro police are authorized to issue civil citations to those who fail to comply with the mask mandate unless the individual has a specific exemption.
Tennessee State
On Friday afternoon, the state logged 1,636 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 150,815. Of the state's cases, 113,313 have recovered, 6,751 have ever been hospitalized (up 74 in 24 hours) and 1,701 have died (up 28 from yesterday).