Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Reportable by LaboratoriesAbout Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This page provides information for the public, healthcare providers, laboratories, and public health partners in Tennessee. It includes vaccine resources, reporting guidance, historical data, testing information, and wastewater surveillance resources. Current respiratory virus trends and prevention guidance are available on TDH’s Respiratory Viral Illness page.
COVID-19 in Tennessee
For the most current respiratory virus trends, recommendations, and prevention information, visit the TDH Respiratory Viral Illness page. TDH is using a broader pan-respiratory approach that includes COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.
What Changed in 2025
Effective January 1, 2025, Tennessee changed COVID-19 reporting requirements as part of annual updates to the state reportable disease list. COVID-19 test results are no longer routinely reportable by healthcare providers and laboratories. Providers must still report:
- COVID-19-associated deaths in persons under age 18
- Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
- Suspected outbreaks of COVID-19, including outbreaks in settings where reporting is required
Data and Dashboards
COVID-19 Reporting and Dashboard Reports Updates
COVID-19 data availability: COVID-19 laboratory and illness data from 2020–2024 will remain available online. Updates to COVID-19 dashboards ended after January 15, 2025, and PDF reports of these dashboards will be made available. Downloadable datasets were consolidated and made available in mid-January. If additional data are needed, they can be requested through the TDH data request process.
Final COVID-19 Dashboards (data through January 11, 2025)
Download Summary COVID-19 Data (2020–2024)
Data Dictionary - (dataset documentation)
Statewide Cases and Outcomes by Age - (weekly cases, hospitalizations, and deaths by 10-year age groups)
Statewide Cases and Outcomes by Race, Ethnicity, and Sex - (weekly cases by race, ethnicity, and sex)
County Cases - (weekly cases, hospitalizations, and deaths by county)
COVID-19 Annual Reports (2020–2022)
Current Respiratory Surveillance
For current surveillance of emergency department visits and other respiratory virus indicators, visit the Respiratory Viral Illness Information and Prevention page. COVID-19 is now presented within broader respiratory virus surveillance, where available.
Tennessee Respiratory Virus Trends
Tennessee RVI Trends by Total
Tennessee RVI Trends by Age
Vaccines and Vaccination Records
External links and accessibility notice:
Some of the following resources link to external websites not managed by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). TDH is not responsible for the content, accessibility, or privacy practices of these external sites.
COVID-19 Vaccines
Vaccination helps protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Staying up to date with recommended vaccines is especially important for older adults, young children, and people with certain health conditions.
Find a COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 vaccines are available at healthcare providers, pharmacies, and community locations across Tennessee.
Vaccination Records
If you need a copy of your COVID-19 vaccination record, you can request a mailed copy through the Tennessee Department of Health.
For Healthcare Providers: Vaccine Information and Reporting
Healthcare providers can access federal guidance and report vaccination data using the following resources:
COVID-19 Vaccine Product Information and Fact Sheets
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Recommendations
FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines
Tennessee Immunization Information System (TennIIS) for reporting vaccination data
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) for reporting adverse events
Vaccine Provider Onboarding, Storage, and Management
Providers participating in COVID-19 vaccination programs should follow state and federal guidance for vaccine storage, handling, and emergency planning.
Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidance (CDC)
TDH Routine and Emergency Vaccine Management Plan (REVMP) Provider Checklist (PDF) (2024)
TDH Combined VFC and COVID-19 Routine Emergency Vaccine Management Plan (PDF) (2024)
To learn more about becoming a COVID-19 vaccine provider, email:
vfc.enrollment@tn.gov
Additional Immunization Resources
For more information about vaccines and immunization programs in Tennessee, visit:
Reporting, Public Health, and Laboratory Services
Reporting Requirements
As of January 1, 2025, healthcare providers are no longer required to report individual COVID-19 cases to the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). However, the following conditions remain reportable:
- Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
- COVID-19-associated deaths in individuals under 18 years of age
- Suspected outbreaks of any cause, including COVID-19
How to Report
Healthcare providers and laboratories should follow reporting guidance available on the TDH Reportable Diseases webpage.
CMS and NHSN Reporting
Some healthcare facilities may be required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to report respiratory pathogen data through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
COVID-19 Testing and Laboratory Services
The Tennessee Department of Health Division of Laboratory Services (DLS) provides COVID-19 testing and sequencing to support statewide public health surveillance.
Available services include:
- SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing
- Whole genome sequencing for surveillance and variant monitoring
Laboratory Testing Information
For complete details on testing services, specimen submission, and laboratory guidance, visit:
Laboratory Portal and Training Resources
Laboratories submitting specimens or accessing results can use the following resources:
Wastewater Surveillance
What is wastewater surveillance?
Wastewater surveillance is the testing and analysis of wastewater to help public health understand disease activity in a community. Because infected people can shed virus in feces, wastewater data can help identify trends even when people do not have symptoms or do not seek testing. CDC says wastewater data can complement other surveillance data, such as emergency department visits and clinical testing.
How does it work?
Wastewater samples are collected by utilities and tested in laboratories. Results are reviewed over time and compared with other indicators, such as illness trends and hospitalizations, to help public health identify increases in community transmission.
What is being done in Tennessee?
Tennessee conducts wastewater testing for SARS-CoV-2 through partnerships involving TDH, the State Public Health Laboratory, supporting laboratories, local and regional health departments, and wastewater utilities. Tennessee uses these data to compare wastewater trends with illness and hospitalization trends and shares data with CDC. This fits with CDC’s national wastewater surveillance approach.
Why wastewater surveillance is useful
Benefits include:
- It can detect virus activity even when people have no symptoms.
- It does not depend on individuals seeking medical testing.
- It reflects community-level trends.
- It is anonymous and not used to identify individuals.
Wastewater Resources
External links and accessibility notice:
The following resources below link to external websites not managed by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). TDH is not responsible for the content, accessibility, or privacy practices of these external sites.
Public Health, Healthcare, and Laboratory Resources
External links and accessibility notice:
The following resources below link to external websites not managed by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). TDH is not responsible for the content, accessibility, or privacy practices of these external sites.
This Page Last Updated: March 25, 2026 at 10:02 PM