Coronavirus: Daily case numbers jump
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)
After two weeks of daily case counts hovering around 110-120, today’s new coronavirus cases were up to 213. There were no new related deaths confirmed.
But, because of a reporting change from the Shelby County Health Department on Tuesday, the number of total new tests for the day is unknown, as is the day’s positivity rate.
The Health Department reported 404,462 total tests and included the following note: “The calculation of total tests ... has been updated to include all tests performed for Shelby County residents, regardless of repeat testing. It is now indicative of total testing volume. Cases remain indicative of positive individuals, rather than tests.”
By doing so, the area’s overall testing number jumped substantially from around 270,000 yesterday.
Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 29,330 cases, including 27,507 inactive cases/recoveries and 424 deaths.
There are 1,399 reported active cases.
There were 184 COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds as of 5 p.m Monday, Sept. 14, according to state data; 74 of those were in ICUs. The day prior there were 198 hospitalized COVID-positive patients with 86 of those in ICUs.
According to the Healthcare Resource Tracking System, 83% of area ICU and 89% of area acute care beds were being used. The day prior the percentages were 88% for both ICU and acute care.
About 26% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive (74) or suspected of having the virus (18), as of 5 p.m. Monday. About 6% of area acute care patients were either COVID positive (110) or suspected of having the virus (30).
And 69 ICU and 278 acute care beds were available.
The Tennessee Department of Health releases statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Monday, Sept. 14, the agency reported 174,274 coronavirus cases, including 2,097 deaths, 703 current hospitalizations and 156,808 inactive cases/recoveries.
About 2.5 million coronavirus tests have been performed 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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