Tennessee has suffered fewer COVID-19 deaths than most of its neighboring and peer states, but the news isn't all good.
Health officials reported Sunday that 210 Tennesseans have died due to coronavirus complications.
Among its neighboring states, only Kentucky and Arkansas have seen fewer fatalities.
Tennessee has also seen far fewer deaths than the four states with populations similar in size, including Arizona, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Missouri.
In addition, Tennessee has reported fewer COVID-19 infections than 18 of the 50 states, but that may soon change. Corrections Department officials say mass testing will begin this week in Tennessee’s state prisons.
The testing initiative comes after more than half of the 2400 plus inmates housed in the Turner Correctional prison were confirmed virus positive last week. Some 27,000 inmates are currently held in the state's 14 prisons.
Tennessee officials have also announced plans to test ever resident in the state's nursing and advanced care facilities. The homes have proven especially vulnerable to coronavirus. Roughly one-fourth of all COVID-19 deaths in Tennessee have been among nursing home residents.
