Testing slows after major backlog

A laboratory backlog in COVID-19 test processing that has caused statewide delays in results reporting may be deterring people from getting tests, Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said Thursday afternoon. 

“There are some people avoiding testing because of the delays and lab processing that we’ve had,” she said. "My fear is that some people may be having symptoms, some even mild, and they don’t get tested because they are dissuaded by turnaround time.”