Health Department can mandate masks, director says
Shelby County Health Department director Dr. Michelle Taylor stands firm on agency’s authority to require masks.
Jane Roberts
Reporter
Jane Roberts has reported in Memphis for more than 20 years. As a senior member of The Daily Memphian staff, she was assigned to the medical beat during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has done in-depth work on other medical issues facing our community, including shortages of specialists in local hospitals. She covered K-12 education here for years and later the region’s transportation sector, including Memphis International Airport and FedEx Corp.
There are 1464 articles by Jane Roberts :
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August 2021
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Coronavirus -
Shelby County Shelby County to start mandatory testing of unvaccinated staff
Testing will begin Sept. 6 for Health Department staff.
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Coronavirus COVID admissions double in week at Le Bonheur
Hospital has nearly half the serious cases in the state.
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Health Care Staff vaccinations mandatory at four hospital systems; Baptist undecided
No decision yet at Baptist, the area’s largest system; 58% of its 19,000 employees are vaccinated.
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City of Memphis Mask mandate starts in schools, applies to everyone indoors
Students who do not comply and do not qualify for an exemption are to be sent home.
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Education Masks will be required in all K-12 schools in Shelby County
The Shelby County Health Department amended Directive No. 24 to require face coverings for students and teachers in all K-12 schools, officials announced Friday.
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Education Three Memphis colleges to require vaccines for students, staff
Here’s how some area colleges are handling vaccinations as students return to school for the fall. One is even paying students $1,000 to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
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State Government Vaccine first doses up 90% in Tennessee over past two weeks
Pediatric hospitalizations reflect COVID, rising number of respiratory infections.
Related story:
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Update
Health CareGroup campaigning against masks in schools met at local dentist’s home
Attorney Ralph Gibson said in a letter that Christopher Rowland did not participate in the meeting: “While the meeting was happening, Mr. Rowland had dinner with his children, took an important phone call, and dealt with the dogs which needed to be let out during the meeting.”
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State Government Masking in schools is a local decision, state says
Tennessee officials say local school boards and parents, not the state, should have the final say in whether students wear masks to school.
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Shelby County Delta now accounts for 98% of skyrocketing COVID cases
Of the 4,383 active cases in Shelby County, more than a quarter are in children, and those children are suffering more respiratory symptoms than they were earlier in the pandemic.
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Metro How our latest COVID-19 surge compares
The COVID-19 surge Shelby County is experiencing now is expected to be steeper than those at other times in the pandemic.
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Health Care Severe pediatric COVID cases on the rise
Shelby County had 1,051 active pediatric cases as of Tuesday, Aug. 3. The largest contingent is among 15- to 17-year-olds, who account for more than a fifth of cases.
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Update
CoronavirusNew health directive strongly urges masking
The Shelby County Health Department has new guidance on masking.
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Health Care Hospitalizations soar; ICUs could be full by mid-month
Sunday, the situation was dire enough that Regional One Health diverted trauma cases to other emergency rooms.
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Premium
Spirit of MemphisLabor shortage pure bliss for SRVS, people with disabilities looking for a chance
“We have an untapped resource of labor that they can get, and they probably are not aware of that,” says Troy Allen, director of employment for Shelby Resident and Vocational Services.
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Metro Masks required in county government facilities open to public
Order runs through the end of August and may be renewed.
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Spirit of Memphis Despite pandemic and unemployment, donations at U of M top $35 million
The university raised more than $35 million, including a record of $26.5 million for academic support when unemployment was at record highs and the campus mostly was quiet.
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July 2021
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City of Memphis No local guidance on what CDC advice means for Shelby County
Decision on masking mandate rests with the county mayor’s office. Aside from a tweet endorsing the CDC guidelines Wednesday, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris refused comment.
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Update
BusinessCDC recommends new mask guidelines, even for those vaccinated
The change reflects research that shows the vaccinated can transmit the COVID-19 virus to others.
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Metro Tenn. No. 7 on fastest-growing COVID list
‘In the general course of a month, Delta went from nothing to just about everything,’ said Richard Webby, an infectious disease expert who works at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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Health Care VA to require vaccinations for health care workers
The VA is the first federal agency to mandate vaccines. It applies to employees at the VA Hospital in Memphis. The only other Memphis hospital that mandates vaccinations is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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Update
Health CarePoplar Healthcare sold to AI software firm
Poplar Healthcare supports physicians across the country witha variety of technologies to process lab specimens.
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Coronavirus Tennessee Dept. of Health resumes vaccine promotion, school clinics
Tennessee may still immunize 14-18-year-olds under Mature Minor Doctrine but instances are “very nuanced and fringe,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Lisa Piercey.
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Health CareLe Bonheur physicians meet with Methodist CEO, unsure they were heard
Some say changes could affect the level of care at the hospital.
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