CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – With vaccine eligibility expanded to all Tennesseans ages 16 and up Monday, and Montgomery County beating the state’s deadline by opening up vaccine access to all over 16 on March 24, it might have seemed like Clarksville was rounding the bend on the COVID-19 pandemic.

But cases are gradually on the rise again. Last Monday, the area had 429 active cases. On Easter Sunday, the county once again surpassed 500 active cases, totaling Monday at 510.

Clarksville has not seen 500 active cases since Feb. 18, when the area had 534 simultaneously active cases of COVID-19. The average number of new cases daily has also increased. For the current, 14-day period, Clarksville-Montgomery County has averaged 40.133 new cases per day.

For the two weeks prior, the area was averaging only 31.2 new cases per day.

Since our last weekly COVID-19 update, only 30,000 residents had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. On Monday, almost 55,000 residents had received their first dose of the vaccine, and 9.5% of the county is now fully vaccinated.

COVID-19 numbers

Here are the Montgomery County numbers updated on the county’s dashboard for Monday, April 5:

  • 18,617 total confirmed cases since March 8, 2020
  • 510 active cases
  • 283 total hospitalizations
  • 221 total deaths
  • 111,768 total negative lab results

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System has not updated their COVID-19 dashboard since April 1, and currently shows no data.

Here are the Austin Peay State University numbers last updated on April 4, according to their dashboard:

  • 16 students with confirmed cases
  • 40 students in quarantine
  • 9 staff and faculty members with confirmed cases
  • 11 staff and faculty members in quarantine

How to get 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.

Fort Campbell: Blanchfield Army Community Hospital has opened COVID-19 vaccination to all TRICARE Prime beneficiaries age 16 and older. Beneficiaries may schedule appointments through a link on the hospital’s webpage at blanchfield.tricare.mil.

Appointments are required, and only those who are scheduled to receive the vaccine may enter. One escort may be authorized for those requiring additional assistance. Child care may be available through the Fort Campbell Family Child Care program for parents with young children.

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.

How to get a COVID-19 test

Free COVID-19 testing by the Montgomery County Health Department has moved back to the Health Department office at 350 Pageant Lane. Individuals who do not have health insurance can schedule an appointment for COVID-19 testing by calling 931-648-5787. Tests are conducted on Tuesday and Thursdays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Montgomery County residents 18 or older may pick up a self-administered test at no cost Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. You must have a smartphone to pick up a self-administered test. The COVID-19 tests are available in many other locations and can be found at this website.

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.