Tennessee Reports Highest Daily Increase Of COVID-19 Cases, Deaths

Tennessee has broken multiple records this week in the continued coronavirus pandemic. The state set a new record on hospitalizations Thursday with 1,300, breaking the previous record set earlier in the week. On Friday, the state reported its highest single-day increase in cases sine the beginning of the pandemic as well as the highest daily increase of COVID-19 deaths.

According to the Tennessee Department of Health, 3,606 more people tested positive for the virus. Additionally, Friday saw 65 more people die from complications stemming from COVID-19.

The state recorded 52 fewer hospitalizations on Friday, a bit of good news after the numbers had begun to rise. Health officials have said they are watching the increasing hospitalizations but aren't "panicked," FOX 17 reports.

The new records come as Governor Bill Lee is extending an executive order granting county mayors the authority to issue mask mandates through the end of the year. The White House Coronavirus Task Force has recommended the state implements a statewide mandate, but Gov. Lee has repeatedly denied this request.

"A statewide mask mandate must be implemented to stop the increasing spread among residents in rural and urban areas of Tennessee," the Task Force said in a recent report.

Since Gov. Lee's extension, the mayors of Williamson, Sumner, and Wilson counties have all reinstated mask mandates throughout the rest of the year.

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