Opinion: Suburbs deserve vaccine locations too
Each time the Shelby County Health Department announces more locations for vaccination distribution, suburban spots are excluded.
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Each time the Shelby County Health Department announces more locations for vaccination distribution, suburban spots are excluded.
Even as the COVID-19 vaccine supply in Shelby County remains low, discussion is ongoing about how to ensure when that changes how it’s distributed in an accessible way to all communities countywide. Related Story: Black community leaders combat distrust in COVID vaccine Related Story: OPINION: Suburbs deserve vaccine locations too
The Shelby County Health Department says more than 24,000 COVID-19 shots have been given in Shelby County so far.
The Shelby County Health Department is vaccinating residents and staff of assisted living and other congregate facilities this week. No drive-thru vaccination sites are operating.
COVID-19 is now the third-leading cause of death in Shelby County and has killed five times more people than the 173 who succumbed to complications from influenza in 2019.
The coronavirus is spreading faster in Tennessee than just about anywhere, but the state is also vaccinating residents faster than the national average. Locally, however, officials are awaiting smoother and more consistent distribution from the state to improve the situation.
Director Alisa Haushalter says the early days of the rollout are going to be bumpy and people will have to make their vaccination plans based on where and to whom the shots are being given that day.
The county is in phase 1a1 of the state’s vaccination plan but the Health Department has been offering vaccinations to funeral/mortuary workers and those 75 and older when vaccines have been available.
Shelby County reported 978 cases Sunday from 5,904 tests. There were no new fatalities reported Sunday.
Shelby County Health Department officials say they are vaccinating funeral and mortuary employees as well as people 75 and older when there is availability. Meanwhile, officials reported 1,020 new coronavirus cases from 5,933 test results, yielding a 17.2% positivity rate.
Beginning today, funeral workers can begin getting vaccinated against the coronavirus.
That compares to 104 deaths reported in October and 88 deaths reported in November.
The number of COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds hits a new high for the pandemic.
According to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System, 93% of area ICU and area acute care beds were in use.
Those qualified to receive vaccines are to register on app, bring badge or employee ID to test sites.
The 305 new cases come from almost 2,000 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 15.6%.
Movie theaters are not mentioned in the most recent health directive, but Malco was told it would have to close. DeSoto County locations remain open.
Shelby County reported 1,395 cases between Saturday and Sunday. The report included data from two days as data reporting was delayed due to the Christmas Day explosion in Nashville.
New Shelby County coronavirus data will be included in Sunday’s update, according to an email from the Health Department.
From Dec. 11 to Friday, Dec. 25, the Health Department reported an average of 765 cases a day and 6,510 test results a day with a 11.8% positivity rate. Eight of the 10 highest daily increases of new cases occurred in this period.
Friday’s 619 cases come from 4,909 tests, giving Christmas Day a positivity rate of 12.6%.
The Shelby County Health Department reported 611 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, Dec. 24. The new cases come from 5,207 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 11.7%.
According to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System, 95% of area ICU and 91% of area acute care beds were in use.
New health directive released Monday afternoon puts more restrictions on businesses. Related story: Suburban, county leaders still have concerns about revised health directive
Each coronavirus surge in Shelby County came with an increase in cases, hospitalizations and deaths that preceded the previous one as transmission rose significantly.