NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee officials on Wednesday finally released more detailed information surrounding confirmed cases and COVID-19 related deaths in its long-term care facilities after open government advocates, Democratic lawmakers and others urged for its release.
The state’s Department of Health had previously held off disclosing such information, saying that the state needed to protect “patient privacy.”
Similar to previous attempts by the state to withhold certain information during its fight against coronavirus, officials eventually reversed course by conceding that the information was valuable to the public.
“We take our duties to protect both public health and patient privacy very seriously,” said Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey in a statement. “Based upon the current development of the COVID-19 situation in Tennessee, the Department has determined that releasing this data is in the public health interest.”
According to the state, 37 deaths have occurred in the state’s long-term care facilities and at least 375 cases have been confirmed.