NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Mike Osborne) -- Nashville Mayor John Cooper is again postponing transition to Phase Three of the city’s Roadmap to Reopening, thanks to an ongoing surge in the number of new cases of COVID-19.
Mayor Cooper reported 300 confirmed infections in the past 24 hours, the largest single one-day jump since the pandemic began in March. However, the mayor was quick to point out that 200 of those new COVID-19 infection results were for individuals who were tested last week.
Still, such a large number of new cases has pushed Nashville’s two week running average of new infections up once again. The running average is just one of six metrics the city uses to gauge the success of its campaign to defeat the virus. City officials note all other metrics remain positive.
There are currently 1,604 active COVID-19 infections citywide. Eighty-three Nashville residents have died due to coronavirus complicaitons. Just under 5,500 Metro residents have recovered from the illness.
Nashville was originally scheduled to move to Phase Three of its Roadmap to Reopening one week ago. Phase Three would have allowed many of the city’s businesses to return to serving customers at full capacity. It would also have allowed many of Metro’s tourism related businesses to open for the first time since the pandemic brought the city’s economy to a grinding halt in March.
Metro will now remain at Phase Two, likely for at least another week.
