Updated 3/11/20

In a surprise reversal, Tennessee’s top health agency announced Tuesday that it will provide locations for where coronavirus cases had been confirmed after initially refusing to do so.

The Tennessee Health Commissioner said the department will release counties of residence for all confirmed cases, but will not include further identifying factors like age or gender as they balance transparency with obligations to lawfully protect patient privacy.

Three other cases have been confirmed in Shelby, Davidson and Sullivan counties.

The health department’s original stance to keep location data hidden from the public had sparked alarm among some officials worried the move would only stir public mistrust.

Neither Governor Lee nor the department had been able to identify which policies or statutes that allowed the state to withhold coronavirus locations.

The state later confirmed the counties when the second and third cases were reported.