NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee is seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases in rural and urban areas, including a 93% increase among Nashville school-aged children since September.
Nashville public schools returned to in-person classes this week.
Metro health officials said Thursday it's possible the increase extends to school children's families. Cases among those 35 to 44 years old are up 27.3% and up 32.5% among 45- to 54-year-olds.
Nashville officials say the infections appear to be from extracurriculars and social gatherings, not in-class transmission.
Several private schools have closed temporarily due to COVID-19.
Meanwhile, state Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said Wednesday that the rural death COVID-19 rate is double that of urban areas.
