NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Health is updating the format for sharing of data on COVID-19 to provide a more comprehensive look at the pandemic in Tennessee. The new format will begin June 12, 2020 and will include the addition of probable cases to the daily case counts, and a report of total polymerase chain reaction, or PCR tests completed. These data are updated at 2 p.m. Central time daily on the TDH website at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html.
“We want to present a clear picture of the burden of COVID-19 on our state, and we want Tennesseans to understand the reason it may appear that we’ve had an increase in our cases and tests completed,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP.
The total number of COVID-19 cases will include both laboratory-confirmed cases and probable cases as defined in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance case definitions: wwwn.cdc.gov/nndss/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/case-definition/2020/.
The full data report will break these numbers down into confirmed and probable cases for the state and for each county, and will provide figures for confirmed and probable deaths. Demographic information will be reported for the combined total of both confirmed and probable cases.
TDH figures for tests completed will comprehensively include those who have been tested multiple times, to provide a more accurate picture of the amount of COVID-19 testing taking place in Tennessee. TDH is only reporting PCR test results.
Tennessee’s county health departments continue to offer COVID-19 testing at no charge to anyone who wishes to be tested. Find a map of health department locations and contact information online at www.tn.gov/content/tn/health/cedep/ncov/remote-assessment-sites.html.
TDH is posting updated COVID-19 case numbers by 2 p.m. CDT each day at www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html. Find additional information at www.tn.gov/governor/covid-19.html and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
COVID-19 Data Reporting FAQ
What changes have been made to how TDH presents the COVID-19 data?
Beginning Friday, June 12, 2020 the Tennessee Department of Health will provide more comprehensive information about the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee by updating data metrics presented on our COVID-19 webpage.
The total number of COVID-19 cases presented beginning on 6/12 will include both confirmed and probable cases.
On the full data report, the numbers will be broken down into confirmed and probable cases and confirmed and probable deaths consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance case definitions: wwwn.cdc.gov/nndss/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid- 19/case-definition/2020/.
Our daily case count graph, demographics and outcomes reported include both confirmed and probable cases.
What is a confirmed case?
A confirmed case is someone who tested positive (via PCR test) for the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS- CoV-2).
What is a probable case or death?
A probable case is someone who may have tested negative by PCR, tested positive by another type of test or may not have been tested at all, but has an illness consistent with COVID-19 and may have other risk factors. For example:
- If a person is a close contact of a COVID-19 case and has a clinically-compatible illness, this person meets the criteria to be a probable case.
- If a health care provider diagnoses a person with clinically-compatible illness with COVID-19, regardless of the test results, this person meets the probable case criteria.
- If a person dies and the health care provider that signs their death certificate determined that COVID-19 disease was their cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death, then the person meets the probable case criteria and would be considered a probable death.
Does public health take different actions for confirmed or probable cases?
For both confirmed and probable cases, public health officials take the same actions. All cases (confirmed and probable) undergo a case investigation and contact tracing interview and are asked to isolate per CDC/TDH guidance. Their contacts are then contacted and asked to quarantine for 14 days.
Why are the number of cases and the number of positive tests different?
The number of cases shows the number of individual people who are either confirmed or probable COVID- 19 cases. Individuals are only counted once in this number, no matter how many positive tests they might have had. The number of positive tests is the total number of PCR-positive laboratory results that have been reported to TDH. The number of negative tests is the total number of PCR-negative laboratory results that have been reported to TDH.
Are antibody tests included in TDH’s testing numbers?
No, these numbers only show the testing volume for PCR tests, which look for active infection.