Gov. Bill Lee said Wednesday, June 10, that testing of every nursing home and long-term care facility in the state for COVID-19 will be completed by the end of the week, enabling him to issue an executive order to start allowing limited visitation to nursing homes by June 17.

To accept visitors, facilities must test all staff and residents at least once and conduct weekly staff retesting. No new COVID-19 cases of residents or staff would be allowed in the previous 28 days, and they would have to comply with state regulations and infection control guidelines.

Shelby County coronavirus cases continue to rise as testing levels off

Lee also during a briefing Wednesday attributed an increase in statewide COVID-19 cases – up about 900 over the past two days to a total of 27,869 Wednesday – to reopening the economy, especially since Memorial Day.

The state is reporting 436 deaths and 1,990 hospitalizations. Some 18,516 people have recovered with 528,635 people tested.

Even with the state lifting restrictions on non-elective surgeries, 20% of the hospital bed capacity remains open in case of a surge, according to Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey.

The state is taking steps to encourage minorities to undergo testing across the state, and the governor’s Economic Recovery Group announced a partnership with the University of Tennessee to survey the public’s sense of safety and economic well-being through the summer.

Pass virus on now, 900 will get it over next 2 months

Meanwhile, the state has resumed distribution of Renfro sock masks after a federal inspection determined they were safe for use, even though they contain what was reportedly a chemical classified as a pesticide.

Renfro issued a statement Wednesday saying it had “full confidence” in the masks from the outset and is glad they are being offered to Tennessee residents again.

“Renfro developed and manufactured a safe, comfortable and reusable mask to fill a critical need in a national health crisis. We are proud that we could provide 5 million masks to Tennesseans, who may not have otherwise been able to access them during this pandemic – and that in doing so we created about 500 new jobs for Americans in a great time of need,” Stan Jewell, president and CEO of Renfro Corp., said in a statement.

The state purchased the masks on a no-bid $8 million contract during the midst of the state of emergency.

Patrick Sheehan, director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, was wearing one of the Renfro masks Wednesday during the governor’s press conference.