News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Putnam County Health Department tested a record 411 people Tuesday for COVID-19.
County Mayor Randy Porter said testing continues to produce more positive tests across Putnam County.
“Positives are coming from all kinds of different places,” Porter said. “You may have one family that might have 15 or 20 members that all test positive in the next family, only one person test positive. One person never has any symptoms. The next person has all the symptoms.”
Porter said he understands this makes the virus frustrating. He said he understands people would like to know whether a particular business or zip code is producing positive cases. However, Porter said that kind of data simply is not available.
“We all know this is very frustrating,” Porter said. “We can’t just fix it like we would most issues. It’s a process we’re all having to work through together.”
Putnam County’s positive case tally stands at 424 cases, an increase of 18 from Tuesday. Porter said most counties around the state are seeing the numbers increase. Four people are currently being treated at Cookeville Regional Medical Center.
Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton said not all hospitals statewide are requiring pre-testing before elective procedures are performed. Because Cookeville Regional is requiring that test, more tests are being done. Porter called testing a good thing.
“Testing is one of the keys to controlling the virus,” Porter said.
Drive thru testing continues Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm at the Putnam County Health Department. Porter said testing numbers have increased some 600 percent since testing began in March.
