The Shelby County Health Department reported 78 coronavirus-related deaths in September.

That figure compares to 102 deaths in August, the area’s high during in the pandemic, as well as 83 fatalities in July, 76 in June, 59 in May and 44 in April.

At least 119 of the area’s 469 total deaths have been attributed to nursing homes or long-term care facilities, according to Health Department data.

The agency releases detailed death data on Thursdays. Of the 469 total deaths, 51.8% of the people have been male, 48.2% have been female; 93.3% have been non-Hispanic, 6.7% have been Hispanic; 61.2% have been Black, 31.3% white, 7.5% other races. 

Of the deaths that have co-morbidity data, 40% of the people had diabetes, 20% were in obese individuals, 34% had a respiratory condition (such as asthma) and 78% had a cardiac condition (such as high blood pressure). The numbers equal more than 100 because a person may have more than one co-morbidity.

Of the 469 deaths, the following is where their exposure to the virus originated:

• 54.6% - no reported exposure
• 9% - a close contact
• 35.6% - health care-associated (including nursing homes/long-term care facilities)
• 0.9% - travel-associated. 

The age group between 75-84 had the highest percentage of deaths, with 26.7%, followed by ages 65-74, at 23.5%, ages 85 and up, at 20.7% and age 55-64, with 17.3%.

The month of October is beginning with seven new reported deaths.

In addition to the seven deaths, the Health Department reported 103 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, Oct. 1.

The 103 cases come from 2,722 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 3.8%.

Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 31,643 cases, including 29,705 inactive cases/recoveries, 1,469 active cases and 469 deaths.

Per the Health Department, 456,156 coronavirus tests have been administered in Shelby County; 278,480 individuals have been tested for coronavirus. The numbers differ because the total testing number includes people who have been tested multiple times.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, there were 172 COVID-positive people in area hospital beds, per state data; 61 were in intensive care units.

According to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System, 84% of area ICU and 90% of area acute care beds were in use.

About 18% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive (61) or suspected of having the coronavirus (2). About 6% of area acute care patients were either COVID-positive (111) or suspected of having the coronavirus (16). 

And 65 area ICU and 238 area acute care beds were available.

The Tennessee Department of Health releases statewide coronavirus information at 2 p.m. daily.

As of Wednesday, Sept. 30, the agency reported 196,139 coronavirus cases, including 2,454 deaths, 806 current hospitalizations and 179,332 inactive cases/recoveries.

About 2.9 million coronavirus tests have been performed in Tennessee.