Health Dept: Current COVID-19 vaccines earmarked for congregate living
A Shelby County state trooper pulls an arm out of his shirt as he prepares to receive a coronavirus vaccination. Health care workers and first responders were among the first to receive the vaccine on Monday, December 28, 2020. (Houston Cofield/Special To The Daily Memphian)
The Shelby County Health Department said its current supply of COVID-19 vaccinations is earmarked for residents and staff in assisted living facilities and other congregate living settings.
The county is in phase 1a1 of the state’s vaccination plan, but the Health Department has also been offering vaccinations to funeral/mortuary workers and those 75 and older when vaccines have been available.
The agency is not operating drive-thru sites at the current time.
As of Jan. 3, the Health Department reported that about 9,500 people in Shelby County have received a coronavirus vaccine dose.
For more information, people can call the COVID-19 hotline at 901-222-MASK (6275).
The Health Department reported 390 new coronavirus cases and 20 new coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
The 20 newly reported deaths have death dates ranging from Dec. 2 through Dec. 30.
Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 70,532 cases, including 62,435 inactive cases (recoveries), 7,152 active cases and 945 deaths.
(Courtesy: Shelby County Health Department)
The 390 cases come from 2,277 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 17.1%.
There were 615 COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds as of 5 p.m. Monday, according to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System.
According to the HRTS, 93% of area ICU and 88% of area acute care beds were in use.
About 44% of patients in area ICU beds were COVID-positive (165) or suspected of having the coronavirus (5). About 24% of patients in area acute care beds were either COVID-positive (450) or suspected of having the coronavirus (42).
And 31 area ICU and 274 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 Tennessee Department of Health releases statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Jan. 4, Tennessee’s reported coronavirus total is 612,250 cases, including 7,168 deaths, 3,213 current hospitalizations and 530,494 inactive cases (recoveries).
About 5.7 million coronavirus tests have been performed in Tennessee.
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coronavirus coronavirus vaccine Shelby County Health Department Tennessee Department of HealthElle 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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