Coronavirus: Hospitalizations continue to rise
Christ Community Health Services staff members collect nasal swabs at a drive-thru coronavirus testing site in October on Lamar Avenue. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian file)
The number of COVID patients in area hospitals reported Tuesday broke a record at 389, but the number reported Wednesday is even higher.
There were 397 COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, according to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System. It’s the highest number of hospitalized coronavirus patients recorded since the outset of the pandemic.
According to the HRTS, 89% of area ICU beds and 91% of area acute care beds were in use.
About 27% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive (100) or suspected of having the virus (3). About 16% of area acute care patients were either COVID-positive (297) or suspected of having the virus (52).
And 46 area ICU and 221 area acute care beds were available.
The above figures are inclusive of all hospital facilities in Shelby, Tipton and Lauderdale counties in Tennessee; Crittenden County, Arkansas, and DeSoto County, Mississippi.
The Shelby County Health Department reported 192 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, Nov. 18, and four new deaths.
The 192 cases come from 2,213 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 8.7%.
(Courtesy: Shelby County Health Department)
In Shelby County, 348,898 people have been tested for coronavirus; 13% have received a positive result. And 621,879 coronavirus tests have been performed; 9% have returned a positive result. Both of those percentages have increased by a percentage point in recent days.
Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 43,833 coronavirus cases, including 39,121 inactive cases (recoveries), 4,095 active cases and 617 deaths.
The Tennessee Department of Health reports statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Tuesday, the agency reported 320,729 coronavirus cases, including 3,995 deaths, 1,929 current hospitalizations and 276,497 inactive cases (recoveries).
About 4.2 million coronavirus tests have been performed in Tennessee.
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coronavirus Shelby County Health Deparatment 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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