COVID Cases, Positivity Rates Up Around Upper Cumberland

COVID cases have doubled in many areas of the Upper Cumberland over the past week as compared with the after-Thanksgiving period.

Putnam County reported 256 cases over the last seven days. That compares with 283 new cases during a 14-day period between December 2-15. Putnam County’s positivity rate stands at 26.7 percent.

Overton County’s case count stands at 179 positive COVID cases. The positivity rate for Overton County stands at 20 percent over the last week. White County’s current case count sits at 114 compared with 69 over a two-week span to begin December.

Fentress County’s positivity rate stands at 27 percent over the last seven days.

Jackson County’s case count stands at 72 as of December 30. That’s up from 34 during the two-week period between December 2-15.

Statewide, the biggest number of new cases has been in the 21-40 age group. Hospitalizations have increased by 50 percent in the last week, but ICU usage has remained steady. Local health experts credit vaccinations and the apparent less severe Omicron variant. Pediatric hospitalizations remain at the highest numbers since the pandemic began.

Upper Cumberland Current COVID Case Counts

Putnam: 407
Cumberland: 192
Clay: 38
Dekalb: 88
Fentress: 95
Jackson: 72
Overton: 179
Pickett: 22
Van Buren: 25
Warren: 147
White: 114