Coronavirus: New cases below 100, but tests low, too
Christ Community Health Center medical staff collect nasal swabs as hundreds of Memphians line up for COVID-19 testing at their site in Hickory Hill on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Good news: The Shelby County Health Department reported only 82 new coronavirus cases today.
Bad news: Those 82 cases came from only 685 tests, well below the previously stated benchmark of 2,400 daily tests.
And, the day’s positivity rate was still about 12%.
Shelby County’s reported total is now 27,779 coronavirus cases and 385 deaths.
The total number of patients in area hospital beds is 238, as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, according to Tennessee’s Healthcare Resource Tracking System.
About 26% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive (88) or suspected of having the virus (5), according to the HRTS data.
And, about 9% of area acute care patients were either COVID-positive (150) or suspected of having the virus (37).
According to the same HRTS data, 86% of ICU beds and 88% of acute care beds were in use at area hospitals.
There were 58 ICU and 303 acute care beds available in area hospitals.
The Tennessee Department of Health reports statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Tuesday, Sept. 1, the agency reported 156,329 coronavirus cases, including 1,781 deaths, 6,978 hospitalizations and 118,885 recoveries.
More than 2.2 million coronavirus tests have been administered in Tennessee.
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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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