Coronavirus: More than 600 new cases, 9 new deaths reported
Christ Community Health Services staff members collect nasal swabs at a drive-thru coronavirus testing site on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020 on Lamar Avenue. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
The Shelby County Health Department reported 611 new coronavirus cases and nine new related deaths on Thursday, Dec. 24.
Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 63,394 cases, including 6,623 active cases, 55,936 inactive cases (recoveries) and 835 deaths.
The 611 newly reported cases come from 5,207 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 11.7%.
(Courtesy: Shelby County Health Department)
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, there were 567 COVID-positive people in area hospital beds, according to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System.
According to the HRTS, 95% of area intensive care unit beds and 92% of area acute care beds were in use.
And 20 area ICU beds and 182 area acute care beds were available.
Bed availability is calculated by subtracting the number of beds that are occupied by patients, unstaffed or otherwise unavailable.
About 40% of patients in area intensive care unit beds were either COVID-positive (154) or suspected of having coronavirus (5). About 22% of patients in area acute care beds were either COVID-positive (413) or suspected of having coronavirus (59).
The above capacity figures are inclusive of all hospital facilities in Shelby, Tipton and Lauderdale counties in Tennessee; Crittenden County, Arkansas; and DeSoto County, Mississippi.
Tennessee’s Department of Health releases statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Wednesday, the agency reported 541,240 total coronavirus cases, including 6,380 deaths, 2,934 current hospitalizations and 455,586 inactive cases (recoveries).
About 5.4 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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