As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Tennessee continue to climb, the state said Monday it has only 500 coronavirus tests available - and if you are one of the few who get tested, results will take 24 to 48 hours.

Test kits being released by the federal government to states could increase the testing capacity, but the health department spokesman wasn’t sure when or how many of the 50 million tests being released to states will come to Tennessee.

The 500 tests the state has does not take into account how many tests commercial and private labs in the state have acquired.

During the past two weeks, the state - which has 6.7 million residents - has tested 289 people for coronavirus; 270 were negative and 19 were positive. It is not known how many Tennessee residents have been tested by commercial and private laboratories. Those private tests have reported 33 positive results to the state the past two weeks.

Coronavirus daily blog, March 16: SCS extends closure to April 6

People who feel sick are being advised to contact their medical provider for a clinical assessment. If the provider suspects the patient has the coronavirus, the county health department is contacted to discuss further testing by the health department or a commercial company.

LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics are testing for the coronavirus. Uninsured people with COVID-19 symptoms such as fever and a heavy cough are advised to contact their county health department, where personnel can discuss patient symptoms and refer them to a clinic for evaluation.

Locally, 123 Memphians were under quarantine in Shelby County as the week began with 18 tests for the novel coronavirus still pending, according to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.

“There aren’t enough kits now,” said Memphis primary care physician Dr. Jeff Warren. He noted that a rapid-read test from Roche Life Science is expected to be available soon.

“When it is here, we will be able to analyze the results in Memphis,” he said.

Mayor Strickland spent part of Monday meeting with leaders of local hospitals and public health officials as well as meeting with tourism, restaurant and hospitality industry leaders.

The mayor also encouraged Memphians to get to-go orders from restaurants as they take “social distancing” measures and otherwise support the businesses.

“They are in the process of developing protocols, but many restaurants are already following CDC guidelines of social distancing and other recommendations,” Strickland wrote.