Confirmed COVID-19 infections dropped for a second week in Tennessee and Davidson County

Confirmed COVID-19 cases dropped for another week statewide and in Davidson County last week, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

As of Saturday, the seven-day average of cases in Tennessee was 2,535, compared to last week's 2,689, the department reported. The Davidson County seven-day average was 215.9, down from 219.

Researchers used a modified live attenuated mumps virus, illustrated above, to develop a COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
Researchers used a modified live attenuated mumps virus, illustrated above, to develop a COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Related hospitalizations also dropped — now 785, compared to last week's 804.

Tennessee held steady in the percentage of people getting tested for COVID-19 who are positive for it.

Statewide, that percentage was 30.1%, roughly the same as the previous week. Davidson County's test-positivity rate dipped slightly — 26.3% compared to 26.6% the week before.

Pediatric COVID complications: 'This should not have happened.' A toddler's grueling recovery from COVID

Related coverage: Back to school in Nashville: What to know about COVID-19 policies, school safety and more

State public health agencies have counted more than 2.2 million cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee since the start of the pandemic. Statewide, 27,118 people have died as a result of the novel coronavirus.

About 55.2% of Tennesseans have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The national average is 67.2%.

Frank Gluck is the health care reporter for The Tennessean. He can be reached at fgluck@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter at @FrankGluck.

Want to read more stories like this? A subscription to one of our Tennessee publications gets you unlimited access to all the latest political news, plus newsletters, a personalized mobile experience, and the ability to tap into stories, photos and videos from throughout the USA TODAY Network's daily sites.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: COVID-19 cases, hospitalization dropping statewide and in Davidson County