Nashville remains in a modified Stage 2 of the reopening plan. Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order to allow individual cities/counties to implement mask mandates as they see fit. In the Metro area, Sumner County ordered a mask mandate on Monday. Williamson County's mask regulations go into effect at midnight tonight. Robertson County and Wilson County are considering action on masks, while Rutherford County has declined to require masks ... although wearing a face covering in person is 'strongly encouraged.'

Metro Nashville

Nashville reports 12,352 cases, a jump of 149 in 24 hours. There are currently 4,012 active cases in Nashville, 8,218 individuals who have recovered, and 122 deaths.

In Davidson County, 109,074 tests have been administered with a positive rate of 11.3% (up from 10.7 on July 1 and 9.4% on June 1). While Nashville's overall positivity rate is at 11.3%, it was noted the rate from yesterday's testing was 16.9%, a worrying factor for the public health officials at today's COVID-19 press conference.

On the trend lines, the transmission rate and 14-day new case trend are both in the red. Capacities for public health, testing, hospital floor beds and hospital ICU beds remain in the green. However, hospital beds are a lagging indicator and are, therefore, being closely monitored among rising cases.

Masks are required in Nashville, and a number of other surrounding counties have also begun instituting 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.

Tennessee State

Tennessee has 53,514 cases of COVID-19, according to the latest figures released at 2 pm C today. That's a jump of 1,359 since yesterday and more than 8,000 cases in less than a week. Tennessee has recorded 665 deaths (up 12 in 24 hours). There have been 2,950 hospitalizations across Tennessee (up 3 in 24 hours) and 31,827 recovered (an increase of 807 in 24 hours). A total of 920,801 Tennesseans have been tested for COVID-19 (an increase of 16,564 since yesterday).

Despite rising case numbers, statewide death rates have dropped to 1.2% ... down from 1.3 on July 1, a death rate of 1.46 the last week of June and 1.6 for much of the five weeks prior to that.