NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) —Health officials report 83% of Tennessee counties now have unacceptable coronavirus transmission rates.
Tennessee's active cases is more than around 33,700 and total cases, including deaths and recoveries has surpassed 84,000 as of Wednesday. Studies show that Tennessee has not flattened the curve and Nashville is among cities privately warned by the White House to take "aggressive" action."
Data released Wednesday shows 79 of the state's 95 counties, or 83%, are "above the threshold" for acceptable rates of virus transmission. This is used the help determine if residents can visit family in long-term care facilities. That's a 6% increase in counties with unacceptable transmission rates since Monday.
Wednesday's increase of 2,473 is the state's fourth highest day of the pandemic. The state's positivity rate sits just shy of 10%.
And it's not just metropolitan areas of Davidson and Shelby counties that are above the threshold.
Davidson, Sumner, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Robertson, Putnam, Giles, Smith, Dekalb, Decatur, Bradley, Hardeman, Hamblen, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Shelby,Jackson, Hamblen, Chester and Crockett, counties are leading the state with a rate of average number of new COVID-19 cases at more than 30. Macon County leads the state with a rate of 65.34. Wayne is close behind with just under rate of 30.
Davidson County currently has the highest average number of new daily COVID-19 cases with 318.
Governor Bill Lee says he's standing by their decision to not increase restrictions such as closing businesses as the virus spreads.