Coronavirus: Shelby continues trend of about 500 new cases
Shelby Health Department personnel and volunteers administer COVID-19 vaccinations on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 in the Pipkin Building at Tiger Lane. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
For the past four days, the Shelby County Health Department has reported new coronavirus cases in the 400-500 range.
The agency reported 491 new coronavirus cases and nine new related deaths on Friday, Jan. 15.
The county total is now 76,534 cases, including 68,771 inactive cases (recoveries), 6.661 active cases and 1,102 deaths.
The 491 cases come from 4,472 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 11%.
(Courtesy: Shelby County Health Department)
There were 533 COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds as of 5 p.m. Thursday, according to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System.
According to the HRTS, 94% of area ICU and 92% of area acute care beds were in use.
About 40% of patients in area ICU beds were COVID-positive (149) or suspected of having the coronavirus (8). About 19% of patients in area acute care beds were either COVID-positive (384) or suspected of having the coronavirus (38).
And, 26 area ICU and 189 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 daily at 2 p.m.
As of Wednesday, the agency reported 670,482 total coronavirus cases, including 8,232 deaths, 2,964 current hospitalizations and 596,883 inactive cases (recoveries).
About 5.9 million coronavirus tests have been performed in Tennessee.
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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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