TDH: 1,289 new COVID-19 cases, 19 new deaths in Tennessee – WKRN News 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Tennessee Department of Health hasconfirmed additional cases and deaths related to COVID-19 across the state on Saturday, August 15.

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is now 131, 747 as of August 15, 2020 including 1,345 deaths, 5,813 hospitalizations and 92,100 recovered. [Percent positive for today is 7.76%.] pic.twitter.com/z1JEI3JgTc

Earlier Saturday, Metro Public Health Department officialsreported24,036 cases of COVID-19 in Davidson County.

During his bi-weekly news conference Thursday, Mayor John Cooper announced bars and limited-service restaurants in Nashville and Davidson County can reopen Monday with a maximum of 25 customers.

East Nashville House Party Investigation

Two men have been charged for their alleged roles in hosting an East Nashville house party attended by hundreds of people earlier this month. Videos circulated on social media showing the party on Fern Avenue held the night of Aug. 1, billed as The Fashion House, where hundreds of attendees appeared crammed together, with no masks in sight.

On Friday, the dentist arrested for his role in the party has entered a guilty plea, his attorney said.

On July 28, Governor Bill Leeannounced the State of Tennessees recommendations to reopen schools for the 2020-2021 school year.The governors plan for re-opening schoolsis getting criticized by some state leaders.

Last week, the Williamson County School district started the year with one of its campuses closed when it was scheduled to have students learning in-person.

Putnam County Schools released an update on August 7 regarding the first week of school during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Director of Schools Corby King, one student at Cookeville High School this week tested positive for COVID-19 and was in close contact with other students. Those students have been reportedly contacted and have been placed on a 14-day quarantine.

Coffee County Schools has moved to a hybrid schedule due to anincreasein active COVID-19 cases. The school board also announced mask requirements for all employees, students, and visitors starting on August 12.

On Monday, Rutherford County Schools announced two employees at Christiana Middle School tested positive for COVID-19, and the school would transition to all distance-learning starting the first day of school, August 13 through August 21.

In Davidson County, Metro Nashville Public School leaders discussed the challenges of making the safest plans for students and teachers during a board meeting on August 11. Metro will have virtual-learning through at least Labor Day.

Also on Tuesday, the Department of Education released anew online dashboardto help track a schools status on offering in-person learning, virtual learning, or a hybrid.

High School Sports

Gov. Lee announced Executive Order No. 55 would include Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association member schools in an exception to contact sports restrictions.He officially signed the order on July 31.

A day after Lees announcement, school leaders in Davidson sent out a letter to all schools in the countyasking to cancel all sports and extracurricular activities until after Labor Day.

On August 10, Cheatham County Central High School announced the football team had two confirmed COVID-19 cases. CCCHS has stopped football practices for now, and are scheduled to resume August 19.

College Sports

On Tuesday, the Big 10 and the Pac-12 became the first two Power Five conferences to postpone fall sports.

Later on Tuesday, both the SEC and ACC released statements announcing, as of now, their plans to stay on course with their current plans for the season.

Stay with News 2 for continuing coverage of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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TDH: 1,289 new COVID-19 cases, 19 new deaths in Tennessee - WKRN News 2