NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Mike Osborne) — Tennessee’s coronavirus pandemic is accelerating.
This past week nearly every metric used to gauge the state’s progress against the virus took a sharp turn higher.
For example, the number of new infections reported statewide jumped 53 percent in just one week. New cases confirmed during the week ending Nov. 7 totaled 17,543. New infections jumped to 26,905 cases the week ending Saturday.
The number of Tennesseans hospitalized due to COVID-19 complications marked new highs five out of the last seven days. As of Monday morning 1,810 Tennesseans were under care statewide. That’s a new record.
There were 504 coronavirus patients being treated in Intensive Care Units on Sunday. That’s a 45 percent increase over the past 30 days. There were 223 Tennesseans on respirators Sunday thanks to COIVD-19 complications. That represents a 40 percent increase in the past month.
The state this past week also reported new one day and one week highs for the number of virus related fatalities. A total of 287 state residents died of COVID-19 complications during the week that ended Saturday, a new all-time high. Eight-nine Tennesseans died this past Wednesday alone.