COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee

On March 5, the first case of COVID-19 is reported in Tennessee, in Williamson County. The patient was a 44-year-old adult man and resident of Williamson County who recently flew on a nonstop flight to Boston through Nashville's airport.[4]

On March 12, Governor Bill Lee issues an executive order declaring a state of emergency until May 11.[5]

On March 16, Nashville mayor John Cooper forces bars to close in Nashville and Davidson County and imposes limitations on restaurants.[6] Governor Lee asks schools to close by March 20.[7]

On March 19, Fiona Whelan Prine, wife and manager of country folk singer-songwriter John Prine announces that she has the coronavirus.[8] On March 26, John is admitted to the hospital after developing sudden onset of COVID-19 symptoms.[9] On April 7, John dies, while Fiona Whelan Prine announces she has recovered.[10]

On March 20, the first death is reported in Nashville.[11]

On March 22, the University of Tennessee reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19. The case involves a staff member and is confirmed by the Knox County Health Department.[12]

On March 23, Memphis mayor Jim Strickland and Shelby County mayor Lee Harris issue "stay at home" executive orders that take effect for Memphis and Shelby County the following day.[13]

On March 26, Middle Tennessee State University confirms an on-campus student tested positive for COVID-19 and is being supported by MTSU Student Health Services.[14]

On March 29, country music artist Joe Diffie dies in Nashville due to complications from the coronavirus, according to his publicist.[15]

On April 2, Governor Lee issued a "stay at home" executive order for the entire state, effective through April 14.[16] On April 13, he extended the order through April 30.[17] Two days later, Governor Lee recommended that all Tennessee schools close for the rest of the 2019–2020 school year.[18][19]

On April 20, 150 inmates tested positive for COVID-19 at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex in Pikeville, a number that quickly rose as more tested positive over the next days.[20][21]

On April 27, there were 576 positive cases at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex.[22]

Lee confirmed the "stay at home" executive order would expire on April 30, and the majority of businesses would be able to reopen the following day, May 1.[23]

On May 1, around 1,000 inmates and staff tested positive for COVID-19 at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center in Hartsville, leading to a significant jump in the state numbers for that day.[24]

On May 7, a study conducted by Harvard's Global Health Institute in conjunction with NPR listed Tennessee as one of nine U.S. states that was doing enough testing to successfully control its coronavirus outbreak.[25]

On May 10, Hancock County became the last county in the state without any confirmed cases of COVID-19 after Pickett County reported one case.[26]

On May 15, the state of Tennessee announced Phase 2 of reopening, set to start May 22. This applied to 89 of Tennessee's 95 counties (all but Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Shelby, and Sullivan). Knox County mayor Glenn Jacobs announced that Knoxville would follow the state's guidelines. Dollywood announced it planned to reopen "soon".[27]

On May 19, every county in Tennessee was confirmed to have had COVID-19 after Hancock County reported a case.

On May 26, it was reported that all employees of a single farm in Rhea County (nearly 200 people) had tested positive.[28]

On June 19, the Tennessee House of Representatives passed House Resolution 340, introduced by James Van Huss, resolving that the "mainstream media has sensationalized the reporting on COVID-19 in the service of political agendas."[29][30]

On June 22, the Westmore Church of God in Cleveland held a three-hour regional worship service for several hundred people. At least a dozen people attending the event tested positive.[31]

On June 29, "at least 164 children living in facilities operated or licensed by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services have tested positive."[32]

On July 3, Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order giving authority to Tennessee's 89 non-metro counties with no locally operated health departments to enforce mask-wearing mandates in their counties.[33]

On July 10, State Representative Kent Calfee, a Republican from Kingston became the first member of the Tennessee General Assembly to test positive for COVID-19.[34]

On July 12, the pastor of the Westmore Church of God said that "the church should have taken masks more seriously as a precaution." The church had stopped tracking the number of confirmed cases in its congregation.[35]

On July 17, three elderly church members who attended a June 21 service at the Westmore Church of God had died of Covid.[36]

On July 23, there were 7,572 school-age children in Tennessee with a COVID-19 diagnosis. This number was thought to be an undercount of cases, as children are not routinely tested. Six counties in Middle Tennessee counties were in the top 10 for juvenile cases.[37]

On July 29, Dr. Fauci warned that there were early signs of an impending outbreak in Tennessee, and that 93% of Tennessee's counties had a transmission rate "above the threshold."[38]

On August 5, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that "fear of COVID-19" was not a valid excuse for Tennesseans to vote-by-mail in the coming November elections, countering the injunction of Nashville judge Ellen Lyle mandating a COVID-19 excuse as a reason to apply for a absentee ballot.[39]

On August 10, a church in Athens closed after several church members tested positive.[40]

On August 12, two nursing homes in Johnson City and Greeneville reported at least 78 cases.[41]

On August 13, the University of Tennessee had 20 cases among students, 8 cases among staff, and 155 people self-isolating due to potential exposure.[42]

On August 15, five Middle Tennessee counties had closed individual classrooms or entire schools due to individuals with symptoms or exposures.[43]

On August 18, the University of Tennessee reported 75 active cases, and had traced one cluster to an off-campus party.[44]

On August 31, there were 965 positive cases at the South Central Correctional Facility in Wayne County.[45]

On September 3, 1,144 people incarcerated at South Central Correctional Facility in Clifton had tested positive for the virus. The total number of deaths among people incarcerated in state prisons was 14. Another round of mass testing began for all state prisons. 312 Tennessee Department of Correction employees had tested positive for the virus, and one had died.[46]

On September 9, University of Tennessee had 660 cases, and 990 students self-isolating or in quarantine. Students in Massey Hall were required to move out, so that their rooms could be reallocated to students requiring isolation.[47]

On September 17, WZTV (Fox News Nashville) reported that the mayor of Nashville, John Cooper was shutting down and severely limiting the capacity of bars and restaurants during the July 4th weekend due to a mere 80 coronavirus cases linked to bars. As a comparison, more than 1,000 coronavirus cases in Nashville were linked to both construction and nursing homes. The mayor's office was falsely reported to have actively deceived the public on the number of coronavirus cases linked to bars and restaurants.[48] Bar owners considered this particularly egregious as the "night life economy makes Nashville go" and these restrictions have caused Music City musicians, sound engineers, and bartenders to be "thrown out".[49]

On October 22, Williamson, Wilson, and Sumner Counties reinstated mandates requiring residents to wear masks in public.[50]

On November 17, the day after Moderna announced its coronavirus vaccine reduced the risk of coronavirus infection by 94.5 percent, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that Vanderbilt University Medical Center, among others, worked on this vaccine. Additionally, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that prominent country artist and Tennessee resident Dolly Parton helped fund research at VUMC for this vaccine. Parton said she donated $1 million because her friend, Dr. Naji Abumrad of VUMC, informed her that the hospital was making exciting advancements towards a coronavirus cure.[51]

In a December 20 televised speech, Governor Bill Lee emphasized his support for mask usage but rejected calls to impose a statewide mask mandate. He made the speech following reports that Tennessee was experiencing one of the country's worst new coronavirus case rates per person. He explained his viewpoint, saying, "Many think a statewide mask mandate would improve mask wearing, many think it would have the opposite effect...This has been a heavily politicized issue. Please do not get caught up in that and don't misunderstand my belief in local government on this issue. Masks work and I want every Tennessean to wear one."[52] Governor Lee added new limits to indoor public gatherings via his new executive order announced during the same speech. Lee limited all indoor public gatherings to 10 people; religious services, weddings, and funerals excepted from this requirement. Additionally, Lee asked Tennesseans to avoid gathering for Christmas outside of homes and encouraged Tennessee businesses to allow employees to work remotely or require masks for employees.[53]

On December 23, Governor Lee extended Tennessee counties' authority to mandate masks through February 27.[54][55]

On January 2, health officials in Hamilton County sent 75-year-old citizens home after waiting in line for four hours to receive the vaccine against COVID-19, and then they administered vaccines to politicitally-connected family and friends.[56]

On January 29, the state of Tennessee announced it had partnered with Walmart to ensure that it is feasible for all people in Tennessee to get the coronavirus vaccine. Walmart will open at least 20 vaccination centers in its West Tennessee stores.[57]

Total cases by county as of February 1, 2021:

  250–4,999 cases

  >5,000 cases

On February 12, Walmart announced that its pharmacies would provide vaccination sites, emphasizing locations with many customers who have limited access to health care.[58] This included locations in Bristol, Johnson City, Kingsport,[58] Knoxville, and Sevierville.[59]

On February 23, the state of Tennessee announced at least 2,400 coronavirus vaccine doses were wasted by Shelby County officials due to an excessive vaccine inventory, poor record-keeping, no county-instituted process for managing soon-to-expire vaccines, and unusually poor winter weather (ice, snow, sleet, frigid temperatures, etc.) during the week of February 15. However, the winter weather was not entirely to blame, as the state claimed the issues went as far back as February 3. As a result, the state of Tennessee will not allow the Shelby County government to distribute vaccine supplies; instead, the Memphis city government, Memphis hospitals, and other clinics and pharmacies would take charge of vaccine distribution and administration.[60]

On February 26, Governor Bill Lee extended Tennessee counties' authority to mandate masks through April 28. Several counties chose to lift mask mandates everywhere except governmental buildings, but continued to recommend masks.[61][62]

Also on February 26, the state of Tennessee announced that all of Tennessee's nursing homes and "skilled nursing facilities" had received both doses of coronavirus vaccines as of February 24. The state also announced that vaccinations for these people are expected to be completed across the state during the week of February 26. In light of these announcements, the state stopped requiring nursing homes and "skilled nursing facilities" to follow stringent guidelines; however individual businesses may choose to continue to limit visitors and nursing homes that receive federal funds are still subject to federal rules.[63]

On March 12, the University of Tennessee, the state's flagship public university, announced it would fully reopen in the fall semester, including doing all on-campus activities at full capacity.[64]

On April 5, COVID-19 vaccine eligibility was extended to all adults statewide.[65]

On April 27, Governor Lee declared the public health emergency over due to vaccine availability, and ended his emergency executive orders allowing 89 of Tennessee's 95 counties to impose mask mandates. Nashville, as part of Davidson County, announced it would remove most public health orders on May 14. However, the mask mandate would remain, as it is part of the six counties with the power to mandate masks.[66]

In May, after the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for use among adolescents, Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) medical director of vaccines and immunization Michelle Fiscus issued an informational memo with language from the TDH general counsel explaining the mature minor doctrine present under state case law, which ruled that minors over the age of 14 are mature enough to consent to medical procedures such as vaccination on their own. The memo was met with criticism from other state officials, who saw the memo as an attempt to "undermine parental authority" by implicating plans to vaccinate children without parental consent.[67][68]

In mid-June 2021 during a hearing of the state's Government Operations Committee, the TDH was accused by Republican lawmakers of "peer pressuring" teenagers and young adults to get the vaccine via outreach targeting the demographic, and lawmakers threatened to "dissolv[e] and reconstitut[e]" the TDH. State representative Scott Cepicky argued that "personally, I think it's reprehensible that you would do that, that you would do that to our youth.", and state senator Kerry Roberts stated that "It looks like the Department of Health is marketing to children and it looks like you're advocating. Market to parents, don't market to children. Period."[69][70] Governor Lee later explained that the state planned to "continue to encourage folks to seek access, adults for their children and adults for themselves to make the choice, the personal choice for a vaccine."[70]

By July 2021, Tennessee had been affected by increasing cases of delta variant.

On July 12, 2021, the state fired Fiscus from the TDH; she cited disputes over the aforementioned memo as the likely reasoning, and stated that Tennessee had also ceased all vaccine outreach specifically directed towards minors (including outreach unrelated to COVID-19).[71] Fiscus told CNN that "It is just astounding to me how absolutely political and self-centered our elected people are here and how very little they care for the people of Tennessee". and that "public health should never, ever, ever be political."[68][67] The state argued that Fiscus was fired due to her "failure to maintain good working relationships with members of her team, her lack of effective leadership, her lack of appropriate management, and unwillingness to consult with superiors and other internal stakeholders on [Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunization Program] projects."[72]

On July 23, TDH commissioner Lisa Pierce stated that the state would (as per Lee's earlier statements) promote vaccination for minors via communications aimed towards parents and guardians.[73]

On July 27, Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally and several other Republican state senators, including State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson composed and signed a public letter recommending those Tennesseans "who do not have a religious objection or a legitimate medical issue" get vaccinated. The senators who signed also stated that "[u]nder no circumstances will the state of Tennessee require mandatory vaccines or vaccine passports for adults or children" and that vaccination is ultimately a personal choice.[74]

Also on July 27, amid changes in CDC guidance recommending masks be worn by all students and faculty of schools regardless of whether they are fully vaccinated, Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn stated that as before, the decision to mandate masks will be left to local county and city school districts; Shelby County Schools plans to require masks, while nearby city and county school districts are choosing to make masks optional.[75]

In an interview with WTVF aired July 28, Fiscus accused Governor Lee of refusing to authorize use of the single-dose Janssen vaccine in state health departments due to his religious views, citing claims that the vaccine was made using fetal tissue.[76] The TDH states on its website that "Fetal tissue was not used to make [the Janssen vaccine], nor any other, COVID-19 vaccine. In developing its vaccine, [Janssen] used a fetal cell line, which no longer contains the original donor cells".[77] The Governor's communications director issued a statement that Tennessee "has never limited or delayed the public's access to any of the approved COVID-19 vaccines, either in public health departments or the pharmacy partnerships that have been a part of vaccine distribution."[76]

Counties with mask mandates as of November 23 (in red)

By July 16, after the Governor's July 3 executive order giving all Tennessee counties the power to mandate masks in public, Davidson, Dickson, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Knox, Madison, Montgomery, Robertson, Sevier, Shelby, Sullivan, Sumner, Washington, and Williamson counties required masks.

Meanwhile, Anderson, Bedford, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Cheatham, Coffee, Franklin, Grainger, Grundy, Hickman, Marion, Marshall, Maury, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Rutherford, Sesquatchie, and Wilson Counties announced they would not require masks. Several counties continue to recommend, but not require, masks and framed the mask issue as an issue of personal responsibility and "love and respect". Six of Tennessee's counties (Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Shelby, Sullivan) have local health departments and already had the authority to issue mask mandates.[94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102]

On October 30, Governor Bill Lee extended Tennessee counties' authority to issue mask mandates through December 29. Montgomery County (including Clarksville) and Sumner County extended their mask mandates that same day.[103]

On November 16, News Channel 5 Nashville reported that 25 Tennessee counties with 66.3% of Tennessee's residents were requiring masks. These counties were: Carter, Davidson, Dyer, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Knox, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby, Sullivan, Sumner, Unicoi, Warren, Washington, Weakley, Williamson, and Wilson Counties.[104]

On November 18, Wayne County announced it would issue a mask mandate starting November 19 and ending December 29.[105]

On December 23, Governor Lee extended Tennessee counties' authority to mandate masks through February 27. Sumner and Washington Counties extended their mask mandates that same day.[54][106][107][108]

On December 29, News 8 Knoxville reported that Hamblen, Roane, and Sevier Counties were extending their mask mandates through February 27, while Grainger County was extending its mask mandate through January 31.[109]

On January 1, 2021, WMC Action News 5 Memphis reported that Benton County issued a mask mandate that would be renewed weekly.[110]

On February 20, 2021, WJHL reported that Washington, Carter, and Unicoi Counties were ending mask mandates in most places, but continued to recommend masks.[111]

On February 27, 2021, Governor Bill Lee extended Tennessee counties' authority to mandate masks through April 28. Several counties, including Greene,[112] Williamson,[113] and Robertson,[114] chose to lift mask mandates everywhere except governmental buildings, but continued to recommend masks.[61]

Rutherford County chose to extend its mandate only through March 15.[115] Montgomery County[115] and Henry County[116] chose to extend their mandates only through March 27. Claiborne, Hamblen,[117] and Sullivan Counties only chose to extend their mask mandates through March 31.[118] Sevier County only chose to extend its mandate through April 15, and planned to permanently end the mask mandate at that time.[119]

Dyer County[120] and Summer County elected to immediately extend their mandates all the way through April 28.[115]

Governor Lee ended the mask mandate authority of 89 of Tennessee's 95 counties on April 27, 2021. He also requested the other 6 counties to end their mask mandates by the end of May.[121]