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May 12, 2020
Health Law Daily

Tennessee Governor’s Decision To Release Positive COVID-19 Test Results To First Responders Raises Privacy Concerns

  • May 12, 2020

The Tennessean (5/11, Allison) reports Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s (R) “request for Tennessee to share some private health data with police is drawing ire from both sides of aisle.” The Tennessee Department of Health has been “providing law enforcement a daily list of names and addresses of individuals who have tested positive for the coronavirus,” and the persons involved have not been informed. In addition to “at least 68 law enforcement agencies across the state,” others, “such as emergency communications centers, are also receiving the information.” The Tennessean says that “a number of Republicans and Democrats alike” have expressed concern about the policy. Both the governor and “health officials have pointed to guidelines published by the federal Department of Health and Human Services,” allowing such sharing.