Tennessee now has the dubious distinction of confirming the most per capita COVID cases nationwide. As of the latest metrics released from the Tennessee Department of Health, the state has confirmed just a handful under 1.155 million cases, adding 3,912 yesterday. The state also surpassed another grim milestone yesterday, with an additional 33 deaths taking us over the 14,000 lives lost mark. On a slightly brighter note, net hospitalizations were down by 51, but the number of hospitalized patients across the state is still high at 3,668. As of Sept. 13, the state had 10 percent remaining capacity for floor beds (1,111 open beds) and 6 percent capacity on ICU floors (124 open beds).
After rising to the highest level we've seen during the pandemic earlier this month, pediatric hospitalizations are down slightly. On Sept. 4, there were 86 children 17 and under hospitalized statewide. By Sept. 13, that number had dropped to 65. Numbers for the most serious cases also showed slight improvement. On Sept. 4, there were 21 pediatric ICU cases and 12 pediatric patients on ventilators. On Sept. 13, there were 19 pediatric ICU cases and 9 pediatric patients on ventilators.