Study: Tennessee counties without mask mandate show 200 percent jump in COVID hospitalizations in July

Data analyzed by Vanderbilt’s Department of Health Policy shows a stark contrast between Tennessee localities that have a mask mandate and those that do not.

The information is based on the amount of COVID-19 hospitalizations during the month of July and it shows counties that do not require face coverings with a 200 percent increase in medical admissions for virus treatment.

Those that require masks in most public settings including Sullivan County saw just a 30 percent jump in COVID patients in those 26 locales.

The Vanderbilt report cautioned that current growth patterns of virus cases could stress or overwhelm medical providers. Governor Bill Lee has left the choice of mask enforcement up to local governments instead of a statewide order.

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