Shelby County COVID-19 Updates

Shelby County Covid-19 info

Shelby County Schools will practice virtual learning when classes begin this fall.  Students will learn from home. 

MASK ORDINANCE: Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland has signed an ordinance that would require residents to wear a mask or facial covering in public.

Memphis City Council votes to make masks mandatory

The Memphis City Council’s face covering/mask ordinance passed last Tuesday, after weeks of debate.

The ordinance does include some exemptions like if a person is alone and in a space not regularly visited by the public, or for any child 12 years old or younger. They are not required to wear masks.

A face covering is also recommended but not required for outdoor activities like walking, hiking, biking or running.

Medical experts say a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Memphis and Shelby County shows people aren’t following social distancing guidelines or wearing masks.

Failure to comply with the ordinance will result in a Class C misdemeanor.

 

Both the 7-day moving average of newly reported coronavirus cases in Shelby County and the number of COVID-positive patients who are hospitalized in the area have fallen.

The 7-day moving case average is now 209.

Update 8/17/20:  Daily Memphian: The Shelby County Health Department reported 229 new coronavirus cases and four new related deaths on Monday, Aug. 17.

Those 229 new cases come from 2,181 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 10.5%.

Shelby County’s reported total is now 25,275 coronavirus cases, including 328 deaths, 20,942 recoveries and 4,005 active cases. 

The number of COVID-positive patients in area hospitals is 308, as of Sunday, Aug. 16, according to the state’s Healthcare Resource Tracking System.

Update 8/11/20: After several days of decreasing, the 7-day average of new coronavirus cases in Shelby County has increased again.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 281 new coronavirus cases and three new related deaths on Monday, Aug. 10.

Working remotely puts focus on equipment

Those 281 cases come from 1,973 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 14.2%. 

Across area hospitals, there were 41 ICU beds available, according to Healthcare Resource Tracking System data, as of Aug. 8. There were also 235 acute care beds available. 

(Figures from that date are the latest available, according to the Health Department.)

Shelby County’s reported total is now 23,810 coronavirus cases, including 18,907 recoveries and 304 deaths. There are currently 4,599 active cases.

Update 8/6/20: The Daily Memphian 

The COVID-19 case rate in Shelby County has stabilized over the past two weeks, but that has not resulted in a declining positivity rate, according to the latest data available.

The number of coronavirus patients in local hospitals also increased from two weeks ago with acute-care and intensive-care bed usage exceeding 90% utilization, according to the state’s Health Resource Tracking System.

During the period between July 22 to Wednesday (August 5), the county averaged 362 new cases and 2,309 tests results a day with a 15.7% positivity rate.

While testing results recorded are well over 2,000 most days, it’s still not outgrowing the rate of new cases. That’s leading to daily positivity rates regularly exceeding 10%.

For four consecutive days, Shelby County has reported fewer than 300 new cases. That appears promising on the surface, but only once did the rate of daily positive cases fall below 10% (6.6% on Sunday).

The 10% benchmark was set by local health officials as one to avoid because it meant increased community transmission of the virus.

Two reasons for that – apart from more widespread community transmission – is testing limited to only symptomatic or patients with direct exposure to someone with COVID-19. Labs also were backlogged in processing those test results.

Update 8/4/20: Daily Memphian: 

Shelby County has 21,913 coronavirus cases, including 16,310 recoveries and 284 deaths, the Shelby County Health Department reported Monday, August 3.

The Health Department reported 258 new coronavirus cases from 2,258 tests. No new deaths were reported.

Here’s the area’s case growth each month:

April 1 to May 1 – 414.3% increase

May 1 to June 1 – 100.5% increase

June 1 to July 1 – 99.2% increase

July 1 to August 1 – 110.2% increase

Comparatively, here’s the area’s testing growth each month:

April 1 to May 1– 434.5% increase

May 1 to June 1 – 157% increase

June 1 to July 1 – 70.3% increase

July 1 to August 1 – 57.8% increase

More than 200,000 (208,495) coronavirus tests have been administered in Shelby County.

Update 7/31/20: Daily Memphian: 

For the month of July, the Shelby County Health Department has reported 83 coronavirus-related deaths. That compares to 76 in June, 59 in May and 44 in April.

Nineteen deaths have been reported since July 23.

The total number of Shelby County coronavirus deaths reported is now 275. The reported coronavirus case count stands at 20,797, including 15,346 recoveries. There are 5,176 active cases.

The Health Department reported 415 new cases from 2,188 tests on Friday, giving the day a positivity rate of 19%. The overall positivity rate, or percentage of tests that are positive, is now 10.4%.

Update July 28, 2020: Daily Memphian:

The 528 new COVID-19 cases reported Tuesday, July 28, are test results from several days, said Dr. Bruce Randolph, Shelby County Health Department health officer.

Processing times for coronavirus tests in Shelby County have increased due in part to backlogs of tests in local labs. One contributing factor is laboratories not having the proper chemicals, reagents, to process those results.

Official: testing labs improving capacity and availability of reagents

Shelby County Health Department health officer Dr. Bruce Randolph (shown April 1 at a press briefing) said at Tuesday’s briefing that processing times for coronavirus tests in Shelby County have increased due in part to backlogs of tests in local labs. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian file) 

There are indicators this trend is changing, Randolph said, during the Memphis and Shelby County COVID-19 joint task force briefing on Tuesday.

“The labs have improved their capacity, improved their availability of the reagents (to process results), therefore there is an improvement in getting results out quicker,” Randolph said. “Our expectation is that within the near future, the length time (it is) taking to get reports back will be lessened.”

The case total reported Tuesday is the second highest daily increase since tracking of the pandemic began. An additional  3,391 test results were reported with a positivity rate of 15.6%.

Update 07/27/20:  Action News 5:

Health officials have confirmed 402 new coronavirus cases in Shelby County.

The Shelby County Health Department has identified 19,166 coronavirus cases and 262 total deaths countywide.

Seventy percent of the total cases have recovered and 8,053 are currently in quarantine. There are currently 5,439 active coronavirus cases in Shelby County.

As new cases are identified, hospital capacity has become scarce in the Mid-South. According to SCHD’s Healthcare Resource Tracking System, ICU utilization is currently at 91 percent.

Update 7/24/20 Daily Memphian:

Since last Friday, the overall positivity rate of Shelby County coronavirus tests has increased five times, inching closer to 10%. As of Friday, July, 24, it is now at 9.9%.

The positivity rate is the percentage, out of all tests sent to the lab, that come back positive. Officials have stressed the need for a positivity rate below 10%. Ten percent or higher, they have said, is indicative of community transmission.

On Friday, the Shelby County Health Department reported 374 new coronavirus cases (out of 2,281 tests), which gives the day a positivity rate of 16.4%. 

The Health Department also reported three additional deaths from the disease.

In Shelby County, 183,183 coronavirus tests have been administered since the beginning of the pandemic. The county’s total is now 18,058 reported cases and 259 related deaths; 12,819 people are considered recovered from the disease.

The amount of active cases is currently 4,980.

Updated 7/23/20:  Daily Memphian:  On Wednesday, the Shelby County Health Department reported 429 new coronavirus cases (out of 2,330 tests), which gives the day a positivity rate of 18.4%. The overall positivity rate is now at 9.8%. 

The positivity rate is the percentage of the tests that are positive. Officials have stressed the need for a positivity rate below 10%. Ten percent or higher, they have said, is indicative of community transmission.

The Health Department also reported five additional deaths from the disease.

In Shelby County, 180,902 coronavirus tests have been administered since the beginning of the pandemic. The county’s total is now 17,684 reported cases and 256 related deaths; 12,435 people are considered recovered from the disease.

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, 91% of regional acute care beds and 88% of regional intensive care unit beds were being used. Two-hundred-seventeen acute care beds and 53 ICU beds were available. 

Update 7/22/20 Action News 5:The Shelby County Health Department has identified 277 new coronavirus cases and seven more deaths.

According to the health department, 17,255 coronavirus cases and 251 total deaths have been identified countywide.

Of the total cases, 69.6 percent have recovered from the virus. There are currently 5,002 active coronavirus cases. Currently, there are 7,514 people in quarantine.

A tweet from the City of Memphis said COVID-19 labs and community testing sites have reached capacity and are backed up in the Bluff City.

The tweet is asking people to only get tested if they are feeling sick or have been exposed to the virus.

Over the past few weeks, the county’s positivity rate has continued to skyrocket. Shelby County and the City of Memphis have both issued masks ordinances to help decrease communal transmission.

Update July 21, 2020 from Daily Memphian:  As of Monday, July 20, Shelby County has 304 more coronavirus cases and three additional deaths from the disease, the Shelby County Health Department reported.

Shelby County’s coronavirus total is now 16,767 cases and 244 deaths, according to the same data; 11,150 people are now considered recovered from the virus.  

The top five day-to-day case increases are as follows (percent of tests positive are in parentheses):

700 - July 14 (13.4% positivity rate)

469 - July 19 (15.8% positivity rate)

466 - July 16 (15.2% positivity rate)

442 – July 3 (12.9% positivity rate)

408 – July 17 (14.9% positivity rate)

Shelby County’s 304 new cases come from 1,678 tests, a positivity rate of 18.1%. 

In Shelby County, 174,888 coronavirus tests have been administered, with an overall positivity rate of 9.6%.

Update July 19, 2020

Tennessee Department of Health say 1,779 new coronavirus cases have been reported in Tennessee with an addition of five deaths.

There have been a total of 78,115 cases reported -- 77,361 are confirmed and 754 cases are considered probable. TDH says there are 843 total deaths in connection to the virus across the state.

More than 44,300 people have recovered from the virus.

Shelby County health officials reported 469 new coronavirus cases and 6 new deaths Sunday morning (7/19).

The Shelby County Health Department says the county has reached 16,463 confirmed cases and 241 deaths.

So far, 10,959 people have recovered across the county.

Over the past few weeks, the county’s positivity rate has continued to skyrocket. Shelby County and the City of Memphis have both issued masks ordinances to help decrease communal transmission.

Update 7/16/20 from Daily Memphian:

Shelby County has 466 more coronavirus cases and four additional deaths, the Shelby County Health Department reported on Thursday. 

Shelby County’s coronavirus total is now 15,270 cases and 233 deaths, according to the same data; 10,122 people are now considered recovered from the virus.  

Those 466 new cases come from 3,072 tests, which gives the day a positivity rate of 15.2%. 

In Shelby County, 165,520 coronavirus tests have been administered, with an overall positivity rate of 9.2%.

Update 7/15/20 from Daily Memphian: The area now has 249 more coronavirus cases and six additional deaths from the disease, the Shelby County Health Department reported Wednesday morning. 

Shelby County’s coronavirus total is now 14,804 cases and 229 deaths, according to the same data; 9,748 people are now considered recovered from the virus.  

Those 249 new cases come from 1,379 tests, which gives the day a positivity rate of 18.1%. 

In Shelby County, 162,448 coronavirus tests have been administered, with an overall positivity rate of 9.1%.

Update 7/14/20 From The Daily Memphian: Shelby County coronavirus cases hit new daily high

There are 700 more coronavirus cases and one additional death resulting from the disease, the Shelby County Health Department reported this morning. 

Seven hundred is the highest single-day increase to date and comes 10 days after the Fourth of July holiday. 

The total is now 14,555 cases and 223 deaths, according to the same data; 9,435 are considered recovered. 

Those 700 new cases come from 5,233 tests, a positivity rate of 13.4%. 

In Shelby County 161,069 coronavirus tests have been administered, with an overall positivity rate of 9.03%.

Update 7/12/20: From The Daily Memphian: 

Shelby County added 250 new COVID-19 cases, as of Sunday, July 12, while the state added 954. 

The area’s total number of cases is now 13,702 with 221 deaths and 9,032 recoveries. 

According to the Health Department, metro area data reflects more than 3,500 additional cases, with in 1,865 in DeSoto County in Mississippi and 817 in Crittenden County in Arkansas. 

Update 7/9/20: 

From The Daily Memphian: There are 306 more reported coronavirus cases and seven more reported deaths resulting from the disease, according to the Shelby County Health Department.

The total is now 12,773 reported coronavirus cases and 208 coronavirus-related deaths.

Those 306 new cases come from 2,043 tests, a positivity rate of 15%. 

Update 7/7/20:

According to The Daily Memphian: There are 146 more reported coronavirus cases in Shelby County, according to the Shelby County Health Department. The number of reported deaths, 200, is the same as yesterday.

That brings to total in Shelby County to 12,165 reported coronavirus cases; 7,715 are considered recovered from the disease. 

The 146 new cases come from 913 tests, a positivity rate of 16%.

Overall, 143,329 coronavirus tests have been administered in Shelby County.

The Tennessee Department of Health reports statewide numbers at 2 p.m. daily. 

As of Monday, July 6, the agency reported 52,155 coronavirus cases, including 653 deaths, 2,897 hospitalizations and 31,020 considered recovered.

More than 900,000 (904,237) tests have been administered in Tennessee. 

Update 7/5/20: 

From Action News Five:  The total number of coronavirus cases in Tennessee hit 51,431 Sunday after state health officials reported nearly 1,300 new cases.

The Tennessee Department of Health says there are 51,061 confirmed cases and 370 are probable.

With nine new deaths reported Sunday, the state’s COVID-19 death toll is 646 with 25 of those considered probable as well.

Shelby County currently has the highest case count among counties in the Volunteer State, according to data from TDH.

Shelby County saw an increase of 405 new COVID-19 cases and one new death Sunday.

With more than 140,900 coronavirus tests in the county, there are 11,829 total cases and 198 deaths in connection to the virus.

There have been 7,442 recoveries in Shelby County accounting for about 63% of all cases.

Leaders with the Shelby County Health Department are making masks mandatory.

Everyone over the age of two is now required to wear a mask.  

Update 7/2/20 from The Daily Memphian:

There are 394 more reported coronavirus cases, according to the Shelby County Health Department. The number of deaths is the same as yesterday, 192.

That means there are now 10,602 reported coronavirus cases in Shelby County; 6,970 are considered recovered from the disease. 

Those 394 new cases come from 3,164 tests, a positivity rate of 12.5%. Shelby county averaging 200 cases a day over the last 2 weeks.