Daily coronavirus positivity rate at lowest level in 10 days
A Christ Community Health Services employee tests a patient for COVID-19 at First Baptist Church on Broad Avenue June 19, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
Today’s new Shelby County coronavirus positivity rate, 11.3%, is the lowest the number has been in 10 days.
On July 11, the area’s daily positivity rate was 9.7%, and the overall positivity rate was 8.8%, compared to 9.6% now. But higher daily positivity rates since then have also pushed up the area’s overall number.
Local officials have stressed that they want to see the area’s positivity rate stay under 10%.
On Tuesday, July 21, the Shelby County Health Department reported 211 new coronavirus cases (out of 1,862 tests) and no additional deaths.
In Shelby County, 176,750 coronavirus tests have been administered since the beginning of the pandemic. The county’s total is now 16,978 coronavirus cases and 244 deaths; 11,541 people are considered recovered from the disease.
Eighty-seven percent of regional intensive care unit beds are being used, as of 5 p.m. Monday, July 20, according to the state’s Health Resources Tracking System.
Of the 379 patients in ICUs, 111 are COVID-positive and another 29 are under investigation for the virus, meaning that about 37% are COVID-positive or under investigation for the virus.
And 59 ICU beds are available.
Eighty-nine percent of regional acute care beds are also being used.
Of the 2,060 patients in acute care, 216 are COVID-positive and another 105 are under investigation for the virus, meaning that about 16% are COVID-positive or under investigation for the virus.
And 271 acute care beds are available.
The hospital data above is reflective of facilities in Shelby, Lauderdale and Tipton counties in Tennessee, Crittenden County in Arkansas, and DeSoto County in Mississippi.
The Tennessee Department of Health reports statewide coronavirus data at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Monday, July 20, the agency reported 79,754 coronavirus cases, including 847 deaths, 3,712 hospitalizations and 45,974 recoveries.
In Tennessee, 1.2 million coronavirus tests have been performed.
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Topics
coronavirus Shelby County Tipton County Lauderdale County Crittenden County DeSoto County Breaking newsElle Perry
A native Memphian, Elle Perry has earned graduate degrees from the University of Memphis and Maryland Institute College of Art. She’s written for publications including the Memphis Business Journal, Memphis Flyer and High Ground News, and previously served as coordinator of The Teen Appeal.
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