Hospitalizations Up, Positivity Rates Steady

COVID hospitalizations Wednesday reached the highest number since the outbreak began at Cookeville Regional Medical Center.

“We currently have 17 positive COVID-19 inpatients, the highest number of positive inpatients we have had since the beginning of the pandemic,” CRMC Director Of Public Relations Melahn Finley said.

Finley said the hospital has plans in place should the numbers go higher.

Cookeville Regional is not alone. State Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey said Wednesday that COVID hospitalizations statewide have risen.

“They’re going up by the day,” Piercey said. “Pretty much every large hospital system in this state is having growing numbers of COVID patients. Nobody’s in any type of critical need right now.”

Piercey said the biggest rises in hospitalizations are concentrated in the Nashville and Memphis. However, she said the state has begun to see rises in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Tri Cities and Jackson.

State Health Department data shows 252 active COVID cases in Putnam County Wednesday. That’s down from 267 cases July 4.

Beyond just case numbers, Piercey said her team looks at the positivity rate which looks at the number of positive cases in relation to the total number of tests performed, what percentage of the tests performed are coming back positive.

She calls this number a more reliable marker of growth or decline in COVID cases than just the pure case number.

“Today’s positivity rate was 8.3 percent which is pretty much in line with what we’ve been seeing,” Piercey said. “This is not slowing down.”

Putnam County’s positivity rate Wednesday stood at 9.4 percent. It stood at 9.1 July 1, 9.0 June 15, and 9.2 June 1.

Around the Upper Cumberland, Clay County reports 5 active COVID-19 cases with 55 active cases in Cumberland County. Dekalb County active cases stand at 29 while Fentress County reports 9. Overton County’s positive case count stood at 18 Wednesday. Pickett County has one active case while Van Buren County has three. Warren County’s positive case total stands at 47. White County reports 20 active cases.