Weekend COVID-19 Testing Exceeds Projected Numbers

Unified-Command Group tests more than 11,000 Tennesseans
Monday, April 20, 2020 | 09:30am

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –  Today Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced more than 11,000 Tennesseans received free COVID-19 tests through the weekend efforts of Unified-Command Group to offer tests regardless of traditional symptoms. The Unified-Command Group is a joint partnership between the Tennessee Department of Health, the Tennessee Department of Military and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).

"Tennesseans across the state heeded the call of ‘when in doubt, get a test’ and we believe these efforts will be an important part of our overall strategy to reboot Tennessee’s economy,” said Gov. Lee. “While demand exceeded original projections, our Unified-Command group adapted quickly this weekend so that individuals who needed tests could receive them.”

Saturday turnout was the largest with more than 6,500 samples taken from 22 sites across all three grand divisions of the state.  Tennessee Department of Health personnel and Soldiers and Airmen of the Tennessee National Guard operated 19 sites, four more than originally planned, to meet the testing demand. 

The additional sites were opened in coordination with city and county officials to meet demand based on local needs. Hours were extended to ensure all participants received a test.

Sunday testing turnout exceeded expectations with more than 4,600 tests collected across 11 sites. On both days, many Tennesseans drove to sites outside their county of residence to obtain a test from a neighboring county that operated a weekend site.

"Since Gov. Lee's expanded testing initiative announcement last week, we continue to see an increase in the number of citizens who want to be tested whether it's on a weekday or weekend and regardless of symptoms," said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey. “We thank our local partners for their help in making testing events a success and encourage citizens to utilize their local health departments for testing during the week.”

Expanded testing will continue for the next two weekends, April 25-26 and May 2-3.   A full list of sites can be accessed here. In addition to drive-through sites, all rural county health departments across the state offer free COVID-19 testing 5 days a week.

WEEKEND SNAPSHOT – EXPANDED TESTING

REGION

County

# of Hours

Sat

Sun

# of tests performed

# of tests performed

Northeast

Hawkins*

6

470

 

 

Washington*

6

 

829

 

 

 

 

 

East

Sevier*

7

910

 

 

Roane*

7

 

901

 

Claiborne

3

132

 

 

Claiborne

3

 

80

 

Grainger

3

115

 

 

Grainger

3

 

104

 

Loudon

3

107

 

 

Monroe

3

81

 

 

Scott

3

28

 

 

Union

3

89

 

 

Union

3

 

107

 

 

 

 

 

Southeast

Marion*

3

331

 

 

McMinn*

3

 

334

 

 

 

 

 

Upper Cumberland

Van Buren*

3

164

 

 

Pickett*

3

 

149

 

 

 

 

 

South Central

Bedford*

3

411

 

 

Maury*

3

273

 

 

Coffee*

3

 

515

 

 

 

 

 

Mid Cumberland

Montgomery*

3

354

 

 

Robertson*

4

254

 

 

Sumner*

3

 

820

 

Dickson

5

240

 

 

Rutherford

3

354

 

 

Williamson*

5

663

 

 

Wilson

3

275

 

 

 

 

 

 

West

Tipton*

3

268

 

 

Hardin*

3

92

 

 

Fayette*

3

 

277

 

Weakley*

3

109

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jackson/Madison County

Madison

7

875

 

Madison

7

 

519

DAILY TOTALS

 

 

6595

4635

WEEKEND TOTAL

     

11230

* National Guard assisted sites