Coronavirus: Hospitalizations edge closer to 600; 16 deaths added to tally
A health care worker ushers a line of vehicles through a coronavirus vaccination site. Health care and essential workers were among the first to receive the vaccine on Monday, December 28, 2020. (Houston Cofield/Special To The Daily Memphian)
There were 594 COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System.
According to the HRTS, 93% of area ICU and area acute care beds were in use.
About 41% of patients in area ICU beds were COVID-positive (165) or suspected of having the coronavirus (2). About 22% of patients in area acute care beds were either COVID-positive (429) or suspected of having the coronavirus (58).
And 31 area ICU and 167 area acute care beds were available.
Bed capacity is calculated by subtracting beds occupied by patients, unstaffed beds and beds that are otherwise unavailable.
The capacity figures are inclusive of all hospital facilities in Shelby, Tipton and Lauderdale counties in Tennessee as well as facilities in Crittenden County, Arkansas and DeSoto County, Mississippi.
The Shelby County Health Department reported 353 new coronavirus cases and 16 new coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday, Dec. 30.
The Health Department says the newly reported deaths have death dates ranging from Nov. 3 to Dec. 27.
Those 353 cases come from 2,039 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 17.3% for the second day in a row.
(Courtesy: Shelby County Health Department)
Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 66,437 cases, including 59,219 inactive cases (recoveries), 6,341 active cases and 877 deaths.
The Tennessee Department of Health releases statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Dec. 29, Tennessee’s reported coronavirus total is 572,589 cases, including 6,710 deaths, 3,060 current hospitalizations and 493,743 inactive cases (recoveries).
About 5.5 million coronavirus tests have been performed in Tennessee.
As of Dec. 29, 79,282 coronavirus vaccines were reported administered in Tennessee, including 0.63% of Shelby Countians who have received their first of two coronavirus vaccine doses. The state plans to update the dashboard on Tuesdays and Fridays.
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coronavirus Shelby County Health Department Tennessee Department of Health Tennessee Healthcare Resource 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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