Coronavirus: Average daily case rate drops between two-week periods
National Guard medics and University of Tennessee Health Science Center staff collect nasal swabs as hundreds of Memphians line up for COVID-19 testing at the Christ Community testing site in Hickory Hill on Wednesday, May 6, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
In the two weeks from July 22 to Aug. 5, Shelby County averaged 362 new coronavirus cases and 2,309 test results each day. But, in the next two-week period, from Aug. 5-19, Shelby County averaged 228 new coronavirus cases and 1,764 test results each day.
Similarly, the area had a 15.7% positivity rate from July 22 to Aug. 5. In other words, 15.7% of tests administered came back with a positive result.
From August 5-19, Shelby County had a 12.9% positivity rate.
The Shelby County Health Department reported 143 new coronavirus cases and five new related deaths on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Those 143 new cases come from 1,879 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 7.6%.
Shelby County’s reported total is now 25,507 coronavirus cases, including 339 deaths, 21,581 recoveries and 3,587 active cases.
The number of COVID-positive patients in area hospitals is 299, as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, according to the state’s Healthcare Resource Tracking System.
According to the state’s HRTS, there were 50 intensive care unit beds and 258 acute care beds available in area hospitals.
About 29% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive (109) or suspected of having the virus (5). And about 10% of area acute care patients were either COVID-positive (190) or suspected of having the virus (36).
According to the same HRTS data, 89% of ICU beds and 90% of acute care beds were in use at area hospitals. The day prior, the percentages were 89% of ICU beds and 88% of acute care beds.
Tennessee Department of Health reports statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Tuesday, Aug. 18, the agency reported 135,778 coronavirus cases, including 1,426 deaths, 5,981 hospitalizations and 96,896 recoveries.
About 1.9 million coronavirus tests have been administered in Tennessee.
Reporter Omer Yusuf contributed to this article.
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coronavirus Shelby County Health Department Tennessee Department of Health Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking SystemElle 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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