NASHVILLE - Another Tennessee case of coronavirus has been confirmed, state health officials announced today.
The Tennessee Department of Health said the patient is an adult woman from Middle Tennessee but released no other details such as where the woman may have contracted COVID-19 nor in which of the 41 counties in Middle Tennessee the woman lives.
"We cannot provide county location information for this individual," TDH spokeswoman Shelley Walker said in response to a Times Free Free reporter's inquiry.
Asked why the state is not identifying the county where the latest COVID-19 patient lives, Walker stated "our practice when we have small numbers of reportable illnesses is to give location information only by grand division of the state in order to protect the patients' identifies."
State Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said information about 89 non-metropolitan counties will not be released because many are smaller counties and patient privacy is at a premium.
She said announcements of patients in Davidson and Shelby counties "were made by their local governments."
Three previous cases of the virus have been confirmed in Davidson, Shelby and Williamson counties.
State officials say "the overall risk to the public remains low as COVID-19 is not currently widespread in Tennessee or the United States."
Officials also announced that the state health laboratory is now running COVID-19 testing seven days a week to assist public health authorities and health care workers in identifying cases and treating individuals.
Effective today, TDH will post COVID-19 updated numbers online by 2 p.m. each day at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html.
The Tennessee Department of Health oversees 89 county health departments and serves as a partner to the six major metropolitan jurisdictions: Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Knox, Hamilton and Sullivan counties.
Tennesseans are encouraged to take routine precautions used in guarding against respiratory viruses.
* COVID-19 Symptoms: Most patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have mild respiratory illness with fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to state health officials who say a smaller number of patients have severe symptoms requiring hospitalization.
* COVID-19 Information Line: TDH has launched a Tennessee Coronavirus Public Information Line in partnership with the Tennessee Poison Center. The number is 877-857-2945 and is available daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central time.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow on Twitter @AndySher1.