Gov. Bill Lee announced Wednesday that free coronavirus testing will become available for any Tennessean, regardless of whether they show traditional symptoms.

Lee said the effort to increase testing comes as officials look to reboot Tennessee's economy in the coming weeks. He has signaled such a reboot could begin as early as May, when his latest stay-at-home order expires.

“Expanding our COVID-19 testing capacity allows more Tennesseans to have improved access to testing which will empower citizens to make informed health decisions," he said in a statement.

Speaking at his daily briefing, Lee said the expanded testing effort will “empower” Tennesseans to make their own decisions as they re-emerge from their homes and into the workforce. The expanded testing will begin Saturday.

While the administration released an initial list of weekend testing sites in 33 locations across the state, additional locations are expected to be added in the coming days. Tests performed at each site seek to provide results within 72 hours.

The drive-through testing, set up with the Tennessee National Guard, will be available through at least the next three weekends. Anyone unable to get tested at the weekend locations is encouraged to visit at county health facilities during the week.

“When in doubt, get a test,” Lee said.

Lisa Piercey, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, said due to the rapidly changing clinical understanding of COVID-19, it is important for every Tennessean who isn't feeling well, regardless of traditional coronavirus symptoms, to be tested.

Prior to Wednesday's announcement, those seeking a COVID-19 test have had to show signs of symptoms, including cough, fever or difficulty breathing.

“If you think you need a test, come out and get one,” Piercey said.

She said the increase in testing availability is partially due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanding a list of the kinds of swabs and other supplies that can be used.

Although Piercey declined to say how many tests Tennessee would have available in the coming days, she said the limiting factor is “hours and manpower.”

“I’m not asserting that we have unlimited supplies, because we do not,” she said, adding the state is doing everything it can to limit the time to process everything from the tests to basic information gathering. She said the state is able to process one car every five minutes.

Piercey said the state has made some initial contingency plans for how to handle things if a massive influx of people show up when drive-through testing opens or many cars are in line at the end of the day.

Explaining the state’s sudden shift in testing capacity, Lee said in the past availability has been a challenge due to limited resources.

“We’ve had to be very resourceful to pursue testing in Tennessee,” the governor said, noting efforts from the private sector, which has largely driven the state’s testing totals.

“There were limited supplies earlier,” Lee said. “We’re beginning to accumulate more and more of those resources.”

As of Wednesday, Tennessee has 6,079 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 135 deaths and 663 total hospitalizations.

Coronavirus testing locations

Coronavirus cases in Tennessee

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.