CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The COVID-19 situation in Montgomery County is looking better each day, as no new COVID-19 related deaths have been reported in the last two weeks.

The last death was reported on March 1, which brings the total as of Monday to 213 in the county since the beginning of the pandemic last March. Over the last week, 10 people have been hospitalized with the virus.

Since last week’s COVID-19 numbers update, the number of daily active cases has hovered in the 350-300 range, with Monday’s active cases at 319.

In addition, over 11% of the county’s population has received at least one dose of the vaccine as of Monday, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting dashboard. This is an increase of 2 percentage points since last week.

This brings the total of the population that has completed the two-part vaccine series, or have received one dose of the newer Johnson & Johnson vaccine, to 5.34%.

However, the trends do not mean that safety protocols will be weakened. The countywide mask mandate is still extended through March 27, with data showing the measures are working in stopping the spread of the virus.

How to get the COVID-19 vaccine

Montgomery County is now in Phase 1c of the vaccination process, meaning individuals 16 or older with high-risk health conditions, caregivers and those who share a household with persons 16 and younger who have high-risk health conditions and pregnant women are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Health Department: To register for a vaccination appointment online through the county health department, visit https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19-vaccines/vaccine-phases/. Click Montgomery County on the map, click “Make an Appointment” to register, then enter the name and contact information to be notified of the appointment date, time and location as soon as the vaccine becomes available.

Individuals who do not have access to the internet should call 866-442-5301 to make an appointment.

All other pharmacies and clinics: Visit Clarksville Now’s updated list of all the locations offering the vaccine to the public in Montgomery County, and how to register at each location.

COVID-19 numbers

Here are the Montgomery County numbers updated on the county’s dashboard for Monday, March 8:

  • 17,816 total confirmed cases since March 8, 2020
  • 319 active cases
  • 268 total hospitalizations
  • 213 total deaths
  • 106,494 total negative lab results

All CMCSS schools were on spring break from March 8 through March 12, and the school system has not updated its CMCSS COVID-19 dashboard since March 8.

Here are the Austin Peay State University numbers last updated on March 14, which are showing an uptick according to their dashboard:

  • 26 students with confirmed cases
  • 45 students in quarantine
  • 7 staff and faculty members with confirmed cases
  • 16 staff and faculty members in quarantine

How to get a COVID-19 test

Free COVID-19 testing is offered by the Montgomery County Health Department at the former Sears location at Governor’s Square Mall, located at 2801 Wilma Rudolph Blvd., from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Drive-thru testing is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and self-administered kits are now available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Follow the signs to the drive-up testing site.

Three Walgreens locations in Clarksville offer self-administered, drive-thru COVID-19 tests. The location at 2109 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. offers the Rapid Diagnostic COVID-19 test, and the locations at 1954 Madison Street and 1460 Fort Campbell Blvd. offer the PCR Diagnostic Test. To make an appointment at Walgreens, visit their website.