Local coronavirus cases, at a glance
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Confirmed COVID-19 cases
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According to the latest numbers from the Tennessee Department of Health, there are 4,138 confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, resulting in 72 deaths.

More than 50,000 (52,874) people have been tested statewide. There have been 408 hospitalizations and 466 have recovered from COVID-19.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 845 cases and 19 deaths. Nearly 10,000 (9,354) people have been tested in Shelby County.

Metro Public Health Department in Nashville reported 1,075 cases in Davidson County, resulting in 9 deaths. 

Just over 11,000 (11,015) people have been tested in Davidson County.

Two weeks ago in a Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen work session, town leaders agreed those working for the suburb should not work from home. 

But 12 days later –Tuesday, April 7 – a number of employees were working from home. 

“Our objective is that everyone employed stays employed,” Jay Jeffries, Human Resources director said.

Department heads have been given authority to determine what tasks can be done remotely as well as to determine essential tasks that need to be done in the office, according to Jeffries. Those leadership positions are setting up schedules so those who physically need to be in the office can serve Collierville residents in a safe manner.

For example, human resources has split into two groups. Work from home days can be spent doing emails and phone calls while employees might go in to assist other employees with typical functions such as medical insurance needs.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris open the joint COVID-19 Task Force/Shelby County Health Department briefing by saying Shelby County Mayor’s Action Center will field calls to report businesses open that should be closed.

(901) 222-2300 is the number.

Also local, state and federal authorities are doing ads to promoted social distancing including funding from county for campaign to include testing information.

”The world has changed fast,” Harris said of the world since early March. “As a result families across our community have had to make tremendous sacrifices.”

Harris said there’s no time for complacency, but for vigilance.

City of Memphis Chief operating officer Doug McGowen calls the task force effort a “coalition of the willing” that is countywide -- government and health care to “prevent, prepare and plan.”

McGowen on predicting the surge and yesterday’s report of a lower peak and earlier surge: “I am suspect myself. Anytime the data changes that dramatically overnight we should do all we can to analyze the data.”

McGowen said all of those in studio for briefing are wearing masks when not speaking.

Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter said 19 dead as of now from the virus.

Haushalter says of 845 cases, 75% of contact investigations completed and 1,300 in quarantine as a result of that.

Haushalter said race data in breakdown of COVID positive has not been available but said the Health Department is working to get that information. She expects they may have that data on the deaths later this week.

Harris said the County Commission rejection of budget amendment proposal he made is because of local economic outlook that is “darkened.” He said will have to try to “tighten belts and try to make cuts.” 

He questions whether his cuts were “deep.” Says they were “reasonable.”

Harris says he also has several tiers of budget cuts to respond to virus’s economic impact.

Haushalter said a “small number” of first responders have tested positive. She denies “hundreds of cops” report.

McGowen said “not nearly that high,” on police who are out after testing positive.

Haushalter said in terms of transportation of those who need testing the focus is on taking the testing to those people because of concerns about spread of virus on public transportation.

Haushalter says race data is taken but is on paper and does not make it to the Centers for Disease Control form for reporting positive cases and deaths because it is not considered “relevant.”

On the modeling the Daily Memphian reported on yesterday, McGowen said he is concerned that people will feel that they can let up on social distancing. He also said the modeling’s assumption is 100% compliance with social distancing through the end of May. McGowen said that is “not realistic.”

McGowen said the city is working on a triage center at Pipkin Building at Fairgrounds in the event hospital ERs are at capacity. Again this is in case that happens.

Today’s COVID-19 Task Force/Shelby County Health Department joint press conference is set to feature Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, City of Memphis Chief Operating Officer Doug McGowen and members of the Health Department.

Watch below:

Beginning today, the Shelby County Mayor’s Action Center will accept calls to report violations of the county’s health directive and executive order that allows only essential businesses to be open to the public and caps public gatherings at 10 people.

The initiative was announced Tuesday by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris to address businesses that remain open in the municipalities and unincorporated areas of the county in violation of the order.

This is an effort to assist the county’s joint COVID Task Force, Harris said in a statement.

“Shelby County residents now have a centralized number to call if they need to report suspected violations,” Harris said. “By reporting violations, residents play a critical role in helping us make sure everyone is doing their part to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.”

Compliance with the directive is necessary to lower the risk of transmission and reduce the impact of the novel coronavirus on our community, he said.

Contact the Mayor’s Action Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at (901) 222-2300.

Mississippi State Department of Health reported 177 new confirmed COVID-19 cases Tuesday for a total of 1,915.

DeSoto County reported four new cases for a total of 140, the second highest in the state. The northwest county remains at one death.

Marshall County has reported 24 new cases and the county remains at one death.

Tuesday MSDH reported eight new deaths from COVID-19 complications for a total of 59 in the state. MSDH is also monitoring 38 long-term care facilities with outbreaks.

Confirmed coronavirus cases stood at 845 in Shelby County as of Tuesday morning, April 7, with 18 fatalities.

Statewide, there are 3,802 cases of the virus and 65 have died from it, according to the latest figures from the City of Memphis.

In Shelby County, 9,354 people have been tested, according to the Shelby County Health Department. Statewide, 47,350 have been tested with a positivity rate of 8.03%.

The city’s COVID-19 website shows 352 people across the state have been hospitalized.

Tennessee is expecting a smaller COVID-19 surge than projected a week ago as people stay home and the number of new cases begins to dwindle, Gov. Bill Lee said Monday.

“The model is encouraging,” Lee said during his Monday press conference from the State Capitol.

Nevertheless, he encouraged people to “stay vigilant” and continue to follow a “stay at home” order he issued last week after he saw travel trends begin to creep up.

The latest projections by the Institute for Health Metrics at the University of Washington show an April 15 surge when about 9,000 beds will be needed and a shortage of zero beds, not nearly as dramatic as the governor presented a week ago. The state is projected to have about 2,500 beds available, according to the model.

In addition, about 875 intensive care unit beds will be needed with no shortage, along with 208 invasive ventilators.

The model last week showed a need for 15,618 beds hitting its high point on April 19, following a peak of 165 deaths the next day and 3,422 total COVID-19 fatalities by Aug. 4.