Data and Benchmarks
Knox County COVID-19 Data
(Data is updated as of )
These numbers, with the exception of the map, are updated daily at 11 a.m. EDT. State numbers are updated at 2 p.m. CDT daily; there may be a lag in reporting of cumulative numbers at the state level.
Please note, these data are meant to provide a rough estimate of testing volume. Due to different source data, numbers may differ slightly from day to day. This data is subject to change.
Cases:
i. UPDATE: Effective Sept. 4, “Inactive” cases will be reported instead of “Recovered” cases. “Inactive” cases include those who are 14 days or more beyond their illness onset date (or, for asymptomatic cases, their specimen collection date). This is in alignment with the Tennessee Department of Health, better reflects what is now understood about the infectious period of COVID-19 and is a better reflection of the meaning of this category. Recent data from CDC show most patients with COVID-19 are no longer infectious after 10 days, although they may have lingering symptoms for some time. While we require that all cases isolate at home for at least 10 days, the additional four days in this definition account for those cases who experience symptoms for a longer time frame and require isolation until the symptoms resolve. This change from reporting “Recovered” to “Inactive” does not affect isolation and quarantine requirements for individuals.
ii. Probable cases are those that:
‐ Meet clinical criteria AND epidemiologic evidence with no confirmatory laboratory testing performed for COVID-19
‐ Meet presumptive laboratory evidence AND either clinical criteria OR epidemiologic evidence.
Probable cases are included in demographic data.
iii. Information about hospitalization status is gathered at the time of diagnosis, therefore this information may be incomplete. This number indicates the number of Knox County residents that were ever hospitalized during their illness.
iv. This figure represents only Knox County residents currently hospitalized at any hospital.
Gender:
* The National Electronic Disease Surveillance System Base System (NBS) is a CDC-developed information system that helps public health departments manage reportable disease data and send data to CDC.
Age Category:
Race and Ethnicity:
* Demographics were calculated based on laboratory reports that have race/ethnicity data available. Not all negative tests have demographic data available and should not be interpreted as a count of negative tests.
COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations and Deaths in Knox County
* Hospitalizations, Cases and Deaths may not add up to the daily reported number of cases for race and ethnicity. Rates can not be calculated for individuals with unknown race or ethnicity.
* Population estimates updated from 2018 to 2019 values
** Total includes probable cases
COVID-19 Cumulative Case Counts per Day, including Growth Rate
* Due to scheduled maintenance on the statewide data reporting system, NBS, over the weekend, case counts on 11/2/20 also include new cases that came in on 11/1/20.
* This data does not include probable cases, only confirmed cases.
Click here for more information about the data.Data Source: National Electronic Disease Surveillance System Base System (NBS), hospital reporting, laboratory reporting.
* Growth rate is represented on the above graph. Scroll your mouse over each bar for data on previous cases, new cases, total cases and growth rate.
New Cases per Day with Trendline
* Due to scheduled maintenance on the statewide data reporting system, NBS, over the weekend, case counts on 11/2/20 also include new cases that came in on 11/1/20.
* This data does not include probable cases, only confirmed cases.
Number of Cases by Specimen Collection Date
* This information comes from NBS (NEDSS based system) and reflects the date the individual was tested.
Knox County Cases - March 1 to February 25 *
(Data is reported as of February 25, 2021).
* Some addresses have not yet been provided through the case investigation; therefore, they aren’t reflected in the map.
* Map will be updated every Friday
Benchmarks
(Data is updated as of )
The focus of the benchmarks outlined here is on assessing the local ability to manage an increase in cases while preventing the unobstructed growth of transmission.
To more visually represent how the benchmarks are being attained, a traffic light is being utilized to depict the status of each benchmark.
Red signifies the trends are not moving towards benchmark attainment and may indicate adjustments need to be made.
Yellow signifies the trends are moving towards/away from reaching benchmark attainment. Yellow indicates caution.
Green signifies that the benchmark is currently met.
As new challenges and opportunities arise, it may be appropriate for the Knox County Health Department and the Knox County Board of Health to consider additional benchmarks or to modify the current criteria.
This section of our data will be updated weekly.
1) Sustained reduction or stability in new cases for 14 days.
For more information about the benchmark, click here.
A sustained reduction or stability in new cases for 14 days is an indicator for movement towards the next phase. Although most cases occur within 5-7 days of exposure, almost all are evident by 14 days. Conversely, a statistically significant increase in new cases will require a full assessment of the current situation and other benchmarks. It may mean we need to make mid-phase adjustments or even mean we need to revert to an earlier phase of opening. Certain increases, such as a significant increase in new cases over the course of five days, would be a cause for thorough review. However, phase decisions should reflect a precise understanding of local trends.
- Green: No three-day shifts of 1.5 standard deviations above a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days)
- Yellow: Three-day shifts detected above 1.5 but not greater than 3.0 standard deviations above a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days)
- Red: Three-day shifts detected above 3.0 standard deviations above a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days)
A sustained reduction or stability in new cases for 14 days is an indicator for movement towards the next phase. Although most cases occur within 5-7 days of exposure, almost all are evident by 14 days. Conversely, a statistically significant increase in new cases will require a full assessment of the current situation and other benchmarks. It may mean we need to make mid-phase adjustments or even mean we need to revert to an earlier phase of opening. Certain increases, such as a significant increase in new cases over the course of five days, would be a cause for thorough review. However, phase decisions should reflect a precise understanding of local trends.
- Green: No three-day shifts of 1.5 standard deviations above a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days)
- Yellow: Three-day shifts detected above 1.5 but not greater than 3.0 standard deviations above a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days)
- Red: Three-day shifts detected above 3.0 standard deviations above a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days)
COVID-19 Cumulative Case Counts per Day, including Growth Rate
* This data does not include probable cases, only confirmed cases.
Click here for more information about the data.Data Source: National Electronic Disease Surveillance System Base System (NBS), hospital reporting, laboratory reporting.
* Growth rate is represented on the above graph. Scroll your mouse over each bar for data on previous cases, new cases, total cases and growth rate.
2) Community-wide sustained and increased diagnostic testing with consistent or decreased test result reporting turnaround time
For more information about the benchmark, click here.
For this benchmark, it is important that test results be available quickly, ideally within 24 hours so that COVID-positive people can isolate and KCHD can begin contact tracing to rapidly identify close contacts and those who should go into quarantine. However, given the current national laboratory processing capacity, consideration should be given to reporting timeframes that do not exceed the current five-day average. Additionally, in an effort to contain the spread of the virus, KCHD will prioritize rapid contract tracing for probable cases who are waiting on lab results to quickly quarantine their contacts, which reduces the risk of ongoing community transmission.
- Green: Sustained or increased diagnostic testing and sustained or decreased test result reporting turnaround time
- Yellow: Three-day negative shift detected between 1.5 but no greater than 3.0 standard deviations below a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days) and result reporting turnaround time exceeds weekly average testing report time
- Red: Three-day negative shift detected more than 3.0 standard deviations below the rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days) and result reporting turnaround time exceeds weekly average testing report time
For this benchmark, it is important that test results be available quickly, ideally within 24 hours so that COVID-positive people can isolate and KCHD can begin contact tracing to rapidly identify close contacts and those who should go into quarantine. However, given the current national laboratory processing capacity, consideration should be given to reporting timeframes that do not exceed the current five-day average. Additionally, in an effort to contain the spread of the virus, KCHD will prioritize rapid contract tracing for probable cases who are waiting on lab results to quickly quarantine their contacts, which reduces the risk of ongoing community transmission.
- Green: Sustained or increased diagnostic testing and sustained or decreased test result reporting turnaround time
- Yellow: Three-day negative shift detected between 1.5 but no greater than 3.0 standard deviations below a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days) and result reporting turnaround time exceeds weekly average testing report time
- Red: Three-day negative shift detected more than 3.0 standard deviations below the rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days) and result reporting turnaround time exceeds weekly average testing report time
Tests Conducted for Knox County Residents
*All data for this time period may not be reported yet.
*All data for this time period may not be reported yet.
*October 14, 2020: To better coincide with the new positivity rate added to the website, KCHD is now using Tennessee Department of Health data (PCR tests only) to calculate testing volume in Knox County. Lag times will still be calculated using a sample data set from Knox County. All values have been updated from April 1, 2020, when testing data became available.
Average Time (Days) between Specimen Collection and Lab Report Data
*All data for this time period may not be reported yet.
* This information is based average time between specimen collection and lab report date for tests conducted in Knox County.
3) Sustained or increased public health capability
For more information about the benchmark, click here.
As the bulk of the response activities have shifted from case investigations and contact tracing to vaccine distribution, KCHD has restructured this benchmark to better represent current capacity. The goal remains to increase vaccine distribution across the County, incorporating more partners and providers who can offer vaccine. The graph below will be used to show trends related to vaccine administration by provider.
As the bulk of the response activities have shifted from case investigations and contact tracing to vaccine distribution, KCHD has restructured this benchmark to better represent current capacity. The goal remains to increase vaccine distribution across the County, incorporating more partners and providers who can offer vaccine. The graph below will be used to show trends related to vaccine administration by provider.
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution by Provider
4) Health care system capabilities remain within current and forecasted surge capacity.
For more information about the benchmark, click here.
The Knox County Health Department will track and share information about the availability of regional hospital beds, ICU beds, ventilators, and confidence in supplies to ensure that they are adequately available if cases surge. State and federal stockpiles should be used to fill in deficiencies, when possible. Additionally, the hospitals, given their full perspective on bed availability, staffing, resources, and supplies, will be working with us to assess their health care system capacity benchmark.
- Green: No three-day shifts of 1.5 standard deviations above a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days)
- Yellow: Three-day shifts detected above 1.5 but not greater than 3.0 standard deviations above a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days)
- Red: Three-day shifts detected above 3.0 standard deviations above a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days)
Acute Care Hospitals in Knox County/East Region
East TN Children’s Hospital
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
Parkwest Medical Center
Turkey Creek Medical Center
North Knoxville Medical Center
University of TN Medical Center
Big South Fork Medical Center
Blount Memorial Hospital
Claiborne Medical Center
Jefferson Memorial Hospital
Jellico Medical Center
LaFollette Medical Center
LeConte Medical Center
Fort Loudon Medical Center
Methodist Medical Center
Morristown-Hamblen Medical Center
Newport Hospital
Roane Medical Center
Sweetwater Hospital
The Knox County Health Department will track and share information about the availability of regional hospital beds, ICU beds, ventilators, and confidence in supplies to ensure that they are adequately available if cases surge. State and federal stockpiles should be used to fill in deficiencies, when possible. Additionally, the hospitals, given their full perspective on bed availability, staffing, resources, and supplies, will be working with us to assess their health care system capacity benchmark.
- Green: No three-day shifts of 1.5 standard deviations above a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days)
- Yellow: Three-day shifts detected above 1.5 but not greater than 3.0 standard deviations above a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days)
- Red: Three-day shifts detected above 3.0 standard deviations above a rolling mean (based on data from the previous 14 days)
East TN Children’s Hospital
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
Parkwest Medical Center
Turkey Creek Medical Center
North Knoxville Medical Center
University of TN Medical Center
Big South Fork Medical Center
Blount Memorial Hospital
Claiborne Medical Center
Jefferson Memorial Hospital
Jellico Medical Center
LaFollette Medical Center
LeConte Medical Center
Fort Loudon Medical Center
Methodist Medical Center
Morristown-Hamblen Medical Center
Newport Hospital
Roane Medical Center
Sweetwater Hospital
COVID-19 Positive Regional Hospital Inpatients (hospitalized), ICU, and Ventilators
* Regional hospital data is gathered from the information hospitals put into the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System (HRTS). This information may reflect Knox County, East Region or patients from other jurisdictions. This data will be reported weekly. All 19 hospitals in the Knox and East Tennessee region (16 counties) participate in HRTS. As with all data of this kind, it is meant to portray the information for a specific moment of time for the hospitals and is dependent on the participating hospitals to report the information. Consequently, there may be a difference in the number of hospitalizations public health reports daily for Knox County cases versus what is visible on the regional level in these graphics. When discrepancies exist, utilize the daily reported data.
Pending COVID-19 Labs for Regional Hospital Inpatients (hospitalized), ICU, and Ventilator
Current as of
* These figures include areas that hospitals are not able to use for COVID-19 patients, such as labor and delivery and behavioral health beds. Additionally, these figures include pediatric beds that are not being used for adult COVID-19 patients and need to remain available for other pediatric-specific needs.
Click here for more information about the data.* Total capacity = Regional hospital standard capacity as reported in the Healthcare Resource Tracking System.
* These surge capacity numbers reflect the ability to surge related to space and equipment, it does not imply the ability to staff these additional beds.
Click here for more information about the data.* Additional Surge Capacity = Data gathered through the Alternate Care Site and Medical Surge Task Force and represents potential hospital capacity over and above the total capacity in the first table. Data on this table will not change from week to week.
* This data is collected from the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System (HRTS) and represents the inpatient information for all the hospitals in Knox and the surrounding 16 counties. All 19 hospitals in the Knox and East Tennessee region (16 counties) input data into HRTS. This information may reflect Knox County, East Region or patients from other jurisdictions. This data will be reported weekly. As with all data of this kind, it is meant to portray the information at a specific moment in time for the hospitals and is dependent on the participating hospitals to report the information. Consequently, there may be a difference in the number of hospitalizations public health reports daily for Knox County cases versus what is visible on the regional level in these graphics. When discrepancies exist, utilize the daily reported data.
5) Sustained or decreased COVID-19 related death rate for identified positive or probable cases.
For more information about the benchmark, click here.
A significant increase in COVID-related deaths will require a full assessment of the current situation and other benchmarks. It may mean we need to make mid-phase adjustments (such as re-imposing stricter physical distancing guidelines) or even mean we need to revert to an earlier phase of opening. However, phase decisions should reflect a precise understanding of local trends. If, for instance, the Knox County Health Department identifies a cluster that results in a spike in fatalities, movement towards greater reopening could continue, even with an increase in deaths. This illustrates the critical importance of public health investigation efforts.
- Green: Sustained or decreased case fatality rate for identified positive or probably cases.
- Yellow: Increased case fatality rate by 1.0%-2.0% over a 14-day period for identified positive or probable cases
- Red: Increased case fatality rate above 2.0% over a 14-day period for identified positive or probable cases
- * In development: Given the low frequency of COVID-related mortality locally, the metrics for this benchmark may be adapted if the COVID-19 related deaths increase.
A significant increase in COVID-related deaths will require a full assessment of the current situation and other benchmarks. It may mean we need to make mid-phase adjustments (such as re-imposing stricter physical distancing guidelines) or even mean we need to revert to an earlier phase of opening. However, phase decisions should reflect a precise understanding of local trends. If, for instance, the Knox County Health Department identifies a cluster that results in a spike in fatalities, movement towards greater reopening could continue, even with an increase in deaths. This illustrates the critical importance of public health investigation efforts.
- Green: Sustained or decreased case fatality rate for identified positive or probably cases.
- Yellow: Increased case fatality rate by 1.0%-2.0% over a 14-day period for identified positive or probable cases
- Red: Increased case fatality rate above 2.0% over a 14-day period for identified positive or probable cases
- * In development: Given the low frequency of COVID-related mortality locally, the metrics for this benchmark may be adapted if the COVID-19 related deaths increase.
COVID-19 Related Deaths in Knox County, TN (N=)
Supplemental Data
(Updated as of )
Data is updated weekly on Wednesdays.