County to remain in Phase 2 for ‘unforeseeable future’ as cases rise
Memphis City Councilwomen Patrice Robinson encourages the use of gloves and masks during a press conference announcing the City's Mask Up Memphis campaign on Monday, June 22, 2020 at Whitehaven Branch Library. The campaign that is designed to encourage African Americans to wear face mask to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
New COVID-19 cases continue to rise locally as testing numbers leveled off over the past month, according to Shelby County Health Department data.
From June 10 to Wednesday, June 24, Shelby County averaged 155 new cases and 1,614 tests results a day with a 9.4% positivity rate. In that span, the county reported at least 100 new cases 11 times and the three highest day-over-day increases to date. The record increase was 385 new cases reported Saturday, June 20.
Memphis and Shelby County moving into Phase 2 of the Back to Business Plan is the biggest factor in the virus’s recent spread, said Alisa Haushalter, Shelby County Health Department director. She also cited a decrease in mask usage and warmer weather as contributors during a June 23 press briefing.
“We are continuing to stay in Phase 2 and we believe that we’ll be in Phase 2 for the unforeseeable future,” Haushalter said. “Because we’re continuing to have community transmission and it’s critical that each of us do our part to reduce the transmission of COVID in our community.”
From May 27 to June 10, the county reported a daily average of 117 new cases and 1,636 tests a day with a 7.2% positive rate. At the time, the county reported its two highest single-day increases in this time frame, with 190 new cases June 2 and 192 additional cases June 9. Those record highs were since surpassed over the past 10 days.
While current COVID-19 testing numbers locally surpassed the originally goal of 1,000 a day, it’s fallen quite short of the 2,400 a day. This is even as testing capacity continues to expand throughout the county, and specifically minority communities.
Public health and government officials have urged citizens at recent press briefings and through media to avail themselves of testing as testing locations for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients increase.
Another 191 new cases were reported by the Health Department Wednesday, June 24. The positivity rate of 1,342 tests results was 14.2%. That’s well above the 10% benchmark public health officials want to see, and another indicator community transmission of the virus is increasing.
Shelby County reported 8,394 coronavirus cases, 167 deaths and 5,798 recoveries, according to Health Department data. The number of active cases stands at 2,429.
A total of 113,279 COVID-19 tests were administered countywide with 7.4% coming back positive. The next countywide COVID-19 task force briefing is scheduled for Thursday, June 25.
Before reconsidering a move to Phase 3, public health experts and county mayors want a 14-day downward trend or leveling in new cases, stable hospitalization numbers, increased testing capacity and contact tracing. Memphis and Shelby County moved into Phase 2 of its Back to Business plan May 18.
Of the 167 deaths, 68 are from outbreaks or clusters at nursing home facilities. There are also 150 deaths where race is known, with African Americans making up 60% of deaths, a slight over-representation of deaths as they represent 54% of Shelby County’s population.
As of Monday, 216 COVID-19 patients are in local hospitals. The number of hospitalizations reached record highs over the past week and a half, and also played a part in the move to remain in Phase 2.
It’s also the shift in coronavirus patients that’s concerning public health experts. It is no longer solely the elderly in hospitals, as the highest range of new cases is from ages 25 to 45, according to Haushalter.
Citizens are encouraged by health experts to social distance, wear facial coverings and wash their hands for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer to slow the virus’s spread.
The Memphis City Council passed a mask mandate ordinance Tuesday, June 16. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland has yet to sign the ordinance as he’s still working through what enforcement of the mask mandate looks like.
Council member Dr. Jeff Warren, who sponsored the ordinance, said it would create more urgency for the overall effort to encourage Memphians to wear the mask. The goal, by his standards, isn’t 100% compliance but what he believes is a more realistic 60% compliance.
Masked Memphis
Form or function: the new fashion accessory, coronavirus masks, turns us all into benign bandits
Erivana Sevion, 11, struggles to get her mask to sit right as members of the Pursuit of God Church in partnership with Life Church, Bellevue Baptist and Mid-South Food Bank assemble some 250 food baskets to give away to those in need on March 20, 2020 at Pursuit of God Church in Frayser. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Chef Ashton Hall wears a University of Memphis face mask on Friday, May 8, 2020 at Shelby Farms. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
University of Memphis student Chiemi Fujio volunteers during a food drive at the school's International Center on May 2, 2020. Many of the school’s international student population have been unable to return home while remotely finishing coursework for the semester. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Merle Norman Cosmetics owner Kelley Dennis wears a heart covered face mask on Monday, May 4, 2020, at the Cordova store. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Tayy Thepro goes with the polka dot during a walk along the bluff near Tom Lee Park in Downtown Memphis on May 1, 2020. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
University of Memphis international student advisor Eddie Roe volunteers during a food drive at the school's International Center on May 2, 2020. Many of the school’s international student population have been unable to return home while remotely finishing coursework for the semester. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Taking the recommended safety measure of wearing a mask when going out in public, Jacqui Anderson walks around Hyde Lake in Shelby Farms Park on May 1, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Gathering for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright attends a Budget Reset Retreat on Friday, May 8, 2020 at Shelby Farms. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Teresa Andreuccetti goes for near full face protection while biking on Main Street with her dog Meme in Downtown Memphis on May 1, 2020. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
William Reynolds of Bartlett protects himself while walking at Shelby Farms as Memphians practice social distancing during workouts, dog walks and bike rides either alone or in small groups on April 4, 2020. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Terri Harris, Director of Marketing and Communications, wears a mask made by a local artist as she volunteers during a food drive at the University of Memphis International Center on May 2, 2020. Many of the school’s international student population have been unable to return home while remotely finishing coursework for the semester. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Church member Richard Lute, 71, passes out gloves as members of the Pursuit of God Church in partnership with Life Church, Bellevue Baptist and Mid-South Food Bank assemble some 250 food baskets to give away to those in need on March 20, 2020 at Pursuit of God Church in Frayser. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Taking the recommended safety measure of wearing a mask when going out in public, Cynthia Sharp walks around Hyde Lake in Shelby Farms Park on May 1, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Taking the recommended safety measure of wearing a mask when going out in public, James Brown walks around Hyde Lake in Shelby Farms Park on May 1, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Shandra Phillips, known as the "Sock Lady" has expanded from her traditional stock of socks to also hawk face masks and surgical gloves on the corner of Cleveland and Poplar on May 1, 2020. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Daniel Mills shows off his sloth-inspired mask while working at Tangles Hair Studio May 6, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Collierville High School Principal Roger Jones III masks up with school spirit as staff, teachers, parents and PTSO members cheer for Collierville High School graduates driving through to pick up caps and gowns at the school on May 7, 2020. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Rene Curley volunteers during a food drive at the University of Memphis International Center on May 2, 2020. Many of the school’s international student population have been unable to return home while remotely finishing coursework for the semester. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Corrections program specialist Gloria Phillips shows a finished product as inmates at the Shelby County Correctional Center learn how to make fabric masks on April, 17, 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Blue Suede Brigade member Marcus Daniels goes with a neoprene mask complete with purge valves while walking his route along Main Street in Downtown Memphis on May 1, 2020. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Dean of the Graduate School Robin Poston volunteers during a food drive at the University of Memphis International Center on May 2, 2020. Many of the school’s international student population have been unable to return home while remotely finishing coursework for the semester. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Half Shell owner Danny Shumrall poses for a portrait in his East Memphis restaurant May 4, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Diamond Sharpe sports her Harry Potter mask while walking along the bluff near Tom Lee Park in Downtown Memphis on May 1, 2020. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
The bronze statue of famous Italian explorer Christopher Columbus got a little virus protection of his own after someone attached a mask overnight on March 28, 2020, at Marquette Park. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
This masked gator chewing on a rubber human foot at The Half Shell May 4, 2020 gives a new meaning to the term "COVID toes." (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Editor’s Note: The Daily Memphian is making our coronavirus coverage accessible to all readers — no subscription needed. Our journalists continue to work around the clock to provide you with the extensive coverage you need; if you can subscribe, please do.
Topics
Shelby County Health Department COVID-19 testing coronavirus Alisa Haushalter Back to BusinessOmer Yusuf
Omer Yusuf covers Bartlett and North Memphis neighborhoods for The Daily Memphian. He also analyzes COVID-19 data each week. Omer is a former Jackson Sun reporter and University of Memphis graduate.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.