MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (Mike Osborne ) -- The number of new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations continued to surge across Tennessee on Tuesday.
During the two week period that ended Saturday, the number of confirmed infections statewide jumped roughly 203 percent.
The total number of new infections remains relatively small in comparison to earlier surges. Just under 8600 state residents tested positive during the week that ended Saturday. Compare that to this past December when well over 65,000 new infections were recorded in just one, seven day period.
In Metro Nashville, the number of new cases nearly doubled in a single week. Confirmed cases totaled 423 infections two weeks ago. This past week, 801 infections were reported.
Hospitalizations are also on the rise. Data journalist and MTSU journalism professor Dr. Ken Blake says at least five mid-state hospitals have seen COVID-19 case counts trend higher in recent weeks.
St. Thomas Rutherford County and St. Thomas Midtown both reported an uptick in COVID admissions last week. Vanderbilt’s numbers started heading higher earlier this month.
TriStar Centennial saw COVID-19 hospitalizations trend higher beginning in late June. Williamson Medical Center had zero COVID patients for well over a month, but has admitted 12 virus patients in recent weeks.