Shelby County reports 414 new COVID-19 cases as testing numbers rise
Christ Community Health Services staff members collect nasal swabs during a walk-up coronavirus testing on Sept. 17, 2020, at Orange Mound Health Center. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)
The Shelby County Health Department reported its highest-single day increases in new COVID-19 cases for more than two months on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Shelby County’s 414 new coronavirus cases came from 6,223 test results, yielding a 6.7% positivity rate. Test results, however, are not reflective of the previous 24-hour period and include tests over multiple days.
This is the highest single-day total since the 664 new cases reported Aug. 1. The Health Department has reported at least 200 new COVID-19 cases seven days in a row.
Three new coronavirus-related deaths were also reported by the Health Department Saturday morning.
Overall, the Health Department has reported 35,901 total coronavirus cases and 563 deaths, classifying 32,828 cases as inactive/recovered. Active cases in Shelby County stand at 2,510, an increase from the 2,274 reported Friday.
There were 250 COVID-19 patients in Memphis area hospitals as of 5 p.m. Thursday, according to Tennessee’s Healthcare Resource Tracking System. The Health Department will provide hospital information for Friday through Sunday in Monday’s daily update.
Of the 250 people hospitalized, 170 are in acute care beds, with 80 in intensive care unit beds.
Hospital capacity for acute care beds is at 87% use, and ICU beds are at 90% occupancy. Those who are COVID-positive or suspected of having the virus represent 9% of acute care patients and about 21% of ICU patients.
The Tennessee Department of Health reported 2,574 new cases Saturday, for a total of 244,087 since March. Twenty-four additional deaths were reported, bringing the number of Tennesseans whose deaths were COVID-related to 3,100.
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Shelby County Health Department coronavirus hospital capacityOmer Yusuf
Omer Yusuf covers Bartlett and North Memphis neighborhoods for The Daily Memphian. He also analyzes COVID-19 data each week. Omer is a former Jackson Sun reporter and University of Memphis graduate.
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