Vaccinations are currently in the 1a1/1a2/75+ phase, which means high exposure healthcare workers, long term care residents and staff, first responders, those ages 75 and older, outpatient healthcare workers and mortuary workers should be, or will soon be, eligible for vaccines.

We've had several community physicians reach out to us recently with questions about receiving vaccines. Local health departments will be coordinating vaccines for healthcare workers not affiliated with a hospital. However, in speaking with the Metro Department of Health, it is our current understanding that much of that will be coordinated through employers.

Metro Health released the following information yesterday:

MPHD officials will also begin offering the COVID-19 vaccine to those in Phase 1a2 today. Those eligible in this phase include outpatient healthcare workers with direct patient exposure like dental offices, chiropractor offices, and home health organizations, in addition to funeral homes. MPHD will reach out by email to businesses and organizations in Phase 1a2. Those organizations in phase 1a2 which have not been contacted can email covid-19vaccinelogistics@nashville.gov. Organizations should provide the following information in their email:

• Contact information - email and phone number for the business or organization
• Total number of staff
• Total number of staff that agree to take the vaccine
• Type of business (i.e. primary care practice, dental office, funeral home, etc.)

Once MPHD receives the information, the business or organization will be placed in the queue. Once their time is reached, the business or organization will receive an email for pre-registration, scheduling, and the location of their vaccination.

Both varieties of vaccine that will be distributed require two doses, with a certain number of days between the administration of the first and second doses. Those who receive a vaccine will be given a reminder card detailing the recommended date of their second dose. Vaccine recipients will also be given safety information about the vaccine and guidelines for reporting any potential side effects.

Metro Nashville

As of 9:30 today, the city reported 74,528 confirmed cases, an increase of 995 in 24 hours. There are currently 7,309 active cases in Nashville, 66,717 inactive or recovered cases and 559 active hospitalizations. With 502 deaths, the city has a case fatality rate of 0.68%. In Davidson County, 834,753 tests have been administered with an overall positive rate of 10.3% (and a 7-day testing percent positive of 21.4%).

Out of 8 metrics on the trend lines, Nashville has 3 in the green, 1 in the yellow and 4 in the red - 14-day new case trend, ICU bed capacity, new cases per 100,000 residents and seven-day positivity. With a goal for transmission to be less than 1.00, the city's current transmission rate is in the green at 0.88. The 14-day case trend continues in the red with new cases categorized as increasing. 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 11% availability, while ICU beds have dropped to some of the lowest levels we've seen at 4% capacity. The goal for both hospital and ICU bed capacity is 20%.

The New Cases per 100K Residents has remained in the red for the last few weeks. After taking a sharp upturn over the last few weeks, there has been some downward movement over the last few days after being in the mid-90s. The goal of the seven-day rolling average is to be less than 10. Currently, Nashville sits at 89.7 as of 9:30 am this morning (up from 85.2 yesterday). The goal for the 7-Day Positivity Rate is to see a figure at 10% or less. Currently, Nashville is in the red with a rate of 21.4%.

More detailed data is available on the Metro Dashboard. Click here for details.

Nashville remains in a modified Phase 3 of COVID Reopening with new restrictions having been put in place over the last couple of weeks, including the Rule of 8 for indoor gatherings without a pre-approved event plan. The city also continues its mask mandate, with several nearby counties having reinstated similar mandates after letting them expire earlier. Governor Bill Lee extended the Tennessee State of Emergency tied to COVID-19 through February 27.

Tennessee State

As of this afternoon, the Tennessee Department of Health reported 640,606 cases of COVID-19 across the state (up 6,369 from the day before) with 559,625 cases defined as recovered or inactive. Currently, there are 3,249 hospitalizations (a net decrease of 92 over the previous day), and 7,618 deaths from the virus statewide (an increase of 126 in 24 hours) for a death rate of 1.19. The state has conducted nearly 5.8 million tests (an increase of 33,593 in 24 hours) with a 17.44% positivity rate for the day. Hospital capacities stand at 12% of floor beds (1,431 beds) and 8% of ICU beds (165 beds) available statewide.

For information on vaccination distribution, visit the TDH vaccine dashboard at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/covid-19-vaccine-information.html. This dashboard is updated each Tuesday and Friday.