State tops 50 deaths a day from coronavirus.
Six weeks ago, this weekly column on the evolving state of the coronavirus pandemic was launched. For the sixth time in a row, the news is not good: The virus is worse today than ever.
The pandemic rapidly escalated across Tennessee and the nation as a whole last week, exceeding prior records for infections, hospitalizations and deaths. More Americans are carrying the virus now than during any prior spike, and the approach of Thanksgiving brings potential for transmission beyond any other event so far this year.
Tennessee set a record of averaging more than 4,500 infections per day Wednesday, although this average has since fallen to about 4,200.
As of Sunday, the state was reporting an average of 53 deaths per day, the statewide positivity rate was above 14% and more than 2,000 people were actively hospitalized with the virus.
All three statistics were the highest ever reported.
The most alarming of these stats is hospitalizations, which is not just climbing but accelerating. Tennessee set a record for hospitalizations almost every day for six weeks, and the increase was steepest – up about 39% – in the past two weeks.
As the outbreak grows, it exposes a widening divide between the tactics of state leaders and mayors in Tennessee’s major cities. Gov. Bill Lee said last week, despite the crisis, he would not mandate masks, limit gatherings or require businesses to take precautions.
Two days later, Nashville Mayor John Cooper – who enacted a mask mandate and business restrictions months ago – announced he would reduce the limitations on gatherings from 25 people to only 8. In Memphis, county health officials said they expect to tighten restrictions on restaurants, bars and other businesses in the near future.
It remains to be seen how these policies will impact the virus in the coming weeks, but for now all momentum is pulling in the wrong direction. Thanksgiving will make it worse.
As I said in my last column, I canceled my Thanksgiving plans so not to spread the virus. The governor said last week he would do the same. So did Mayor Cooper and his brother, U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-nashville. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pleaded with Americans not to travel for the holiday gather with people from outside their household.
If you absolutely must gather on Thanksgiving, please do what you can to minimize risk. Get tested no later than Monday. Wear a mask. Spend your time outdoors. Don’t share serving utensils.
This Thanksgiving has potential to be a holiday we come to regret, but with some minor change we can minimize the spread of the virus. We will all be thankful that we did.
Brett Kelman is the health care reporter for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 615-259-8287 or at brett.kelman@tennessean.com.