(cache)Tennova sees surge in COVID-19 patients, high volume in Clarksville ER

Tennova sees surge in COVID-19 patients, high volume in Clarksville ER

Clarksville NowTennova Healthcare-Clarksville (Contributed)

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Tennova Healthcare in Clarksville is seeing a surge in positive, COVID-19 patients and high volumes in the hospital’s emergency department.

This comes as the number of COVID-19 cases in Montgomery County continues to rise, and has remained above 1,500 for the fifth day in a row as of Friday.

The 14-day active case counts, according to the Clarksville-Montgomery County COVID-19 Dashboard, last updated on Aug. 26, 2021.

Potential capacity issues

Out of the 270 beds total at Tennova, 38 are occupied by COVID patients as of Friday according to Tennova spokeswoman Sandy Wooten.

Of the 38 admitted patients, 18 are in critical care units and 13 are on ventilators.

Wooten added that 87% of COVID-19 positive inpatients are unvaccinated against the virus.

“Over the past week, Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville has seen a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 inpatients we are treating and our Emergency Department volumes,” Wooten continued.

While the hospital’s capacity changes throughout the day based on rotating admissions, discharges and staffing, Wooten reiterated there is still availability.

“Our hospital is prepared to care for all patients who need medical attention, and patients experiencing a medical emergency should seek care promptly,” Wooten said.

Change in testing

Additionally, Tennova is now only testing patients for COVID-19 who visit the ER with symptoms.

“We want to be sure the public is aware that the Emergency Department is not a COVID-19 testing site,” Wooten told Clarksville Now. “This helps protect our patients and medical team and allows us to remain focused on addressing medical emergencies and treatment.”

Those who need a COVID-19 test to either return to work, school or for possible exposure to the virus should call the Montgomery County Health Department at 931-648-5747 to find a public testing site.

False active shooter situation on Fort Campbell temporarily shuts down post gates

Clarksville NowFort Campbell Gate 4.

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A weapons training simulation resulted in false reports of an active shooter situation on Fort Campbell Friday morning and caused post gates to temporarily close.

According to a news release from Fort Campbell Public Affairs Officer Brendalyn Carpenter-Player, the installation received reports of an active shooter shortly after 10:30 a.m. Friday morning.

It is not currently known where on the installation the situation unfolded.

Fort Campbell law enforcement responded immediately, closed the gates and cleared nearby buildings, according to a news release.

An investigation followed, which identified a nearby weapons training simulation as the origin of the active shooter reports.

“We understand everyone’s concerns and want to ensure you there is no threat to the installation,” Col. Andrew Jordan, Fort Campbell garrison commander, said in the news release.

“Please do not hesitate to report something you may feel is out of the ordinary. In this instance it turned out to be noise from training. We would rather someone report and we exercise our resources and find there was nothing, than for tragedy to come to Fort Campbell,” Col. Jackson continued.