Coronavirus: Hospitalizations top 500, a high once predicted for Christmas
Dr. Amber Thacker (right) and Trishonda Scurlock go over patient data in a Regional One COVID ward in September. (Patrick Lantirp/Daily Memphian file)
Shelby County Health Department modeling predicted that more than 500 COVID-19 patients would be hospitalized in the area by Christmas Day.
That figure reached 500 as of 5 p.m., Nov. 30.
According to the state’s Healthcare Resource Tracking System, there were 501 COVID-positive patients in area hospitals on Nov. 30; 478 the day prior.
As of Monday, 93% of area intensive care unit and 87% of area acute care beds were in use.
About 36% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive (139) or suspected of having the virus (4). About 20% of area acute care patients were either COVID-positive (362) or suspected of having the virus (50).
On the flip side, 29 area ICU and 301 area acute care beds were available.
The Shelby County Health Department reported 609 new coronavirus cases and 11 additional deaths on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 48,714 cases, including 44,312 inactive cases (recoveries), 3,730 active cases and 672 deaths.
Tuesday’s more than 600 cases come from 5,608 tests, which gives the day a positivity rate of 10.9%.
(Courtesy: Shelby County Health Department)
In Shelby County, 371,808 people have been tested for the coronavirus; about 13% have received positive results. And 672,453 coronavirus tests have been performed; about 8% have returned positive results. The numbers differ because some people have been tested multiple times.
The Memphis and Shelby County Joint COVID-19 Task Force is hosting another round of free surge testing from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, at Poplar Healthcare, 3495 Hacks Cross Road and at Tiger Lane, 450 Early Maxwell Blvd.
Tennessee’s Department of Health releases statewide coronavirus data at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Monday, the agency reported 374,493 coronavirus cases, including 4,602 deaths, 2,290 current hospitalizations and 328,710 inactive cases (recoveries).
About 4.5 million coronavirus tests have been performed in Tennessee.
Topics
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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