Shelby County adds 500 coronavirus cases in one of highest days yet
Shelby County saw another high day of new coronavirus cases, yet that may be attributable to a backlog of new test results.
On Tuesday, July 28, the Shelby County Health Department reported 528 new coronavirus cases from 3,391 tests, which gives the day a positivity rate of 15.6%.
The overall positivity rate for Shelby County is 10.1%
According to a risk assessment planning tool created by researchers, a person attending an event with 10 people in Shelby County currently has an up to 42% chance of encountering someone who has coronavirus. Based on available data, the tool assumes that there are 10 times more cases of the virus than are being reported; if one lowers that assumption (in a place that has more testing available, for instance), the risk of encountering someone with coronavirus in a 10-person group drops to 24%.
The Health Department reported one new death resulting from the coronavirus. The reported totals for the county are 19,694 coronavirus cases, 263 deaths and 13,901 recoveries. There are now 5,530 active cases.
In Shelby County, 194,192 coronavirus tests have been administered.
As of 5 p.m. Monday, July 27, the state’s Healthcare Resource Tracking reported 88% of regional intensive care beds are being used, compared to 91% the day prior.
Of the 392 patients in ICU, 120 are COVID-positive and 16 are under investigation for the virus, meaning that about 35% are either COVID-positive or under investigation for the virus.
And 52 ICU beds are available.
As of 5 p.m. Monday, July 27, the state’s Healthcare Resource Tracking reported 89% of regional acute care beds are in use, compared to 87% the day prior.
Of the 2,153 patients in acute care, 237 are COVID-positive and 86 are under investigation for the virus, meaning that about 15% are either COVID-positive or under investigation for the virus.
And 254 acute care beds are available.
The hospital data above is inclusive of hospitals in Shelby, Lauderdale and Tipton counties in Tennessee; Crittenden County, Arkansas and DeSoto County, Mississippi.
The Tennessee Department of Health reports statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Monday, July 27, the agency reported 96,489 coronavirus cases including 978 deaths, 4,280 hospitalizations and 57,239 recoveries.
In Tennessee, 1.4 million coronavirus tests have been administered.
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Shelby County Department of Health coronavirus Tennessee Department of HealthElle 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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