COVID hospitalizations continue to fall
Christ Community Health Center’s Jessie Tate (left) elbows medical staff before COVID-19 testing at its site in Hickory Hill on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian file)
The number of COVID-positive patients in area hospitals is 278, as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, according to the state’s Healthcare Resource Tracking System. On Aug. 6 — two weeks prior — that number was 359.
About 32% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive or suspected of having the virus, compared to about 37% on Aug. 6. And, about 9% area acute care patients were either COVID-positive or suspected of having the virus, compared to about 17% on Aug. 6.
According to the same HRTS data, 87% of ICU beds and 92% of acute care beds were in use at area hospitals. On Aug. 6, the percentages were 92% of ICU beds and 90% of acute care beds.
According to the state’s HRTS, there were 58 intensive care unit beds and 190 acute care beds available in area hospitals.
The Shelby County Health Department reported 157 new coronavirus cases and one new related death on Thursday, Aug. 20.
Those 157 new cases come from 1,956 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 8.0%.
Shelby County’s reported total is now 25,664 coronavirus cases, including 340 deaths, 21,898 recoveries and 3,426 active cases.
Tennessee Department of Health reports statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Wednesday, Aug. 19, the agency reported 137,800 coronavirus cases, including 1,452 deaths, 6,069 hospitalizations and 99,085 recoveries.
More than 1.9 million coronavirus tests have been administered in Tennessee.
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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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