There are 602 article(s) tagged Lee Harris:

• February 2021

  • City will now manage Pipkin; other changes being implemented

    The city has been running the Appling location with UTHSC, vaccinating about 1,000 people a day without long lines and running out of vaccine.

     

    By Jane Roberts February 16, 2021

  • Coming Health Directive will loosen restrictions on restaurants

    Bar seating, later hours and more capacity for restaurants are all possibilities in Health Directive 18, which should be effective late next week.

    By Jennifer Biggs February 12, 2021

  • The ‘buck stops’ at Shelby Co. Health Department

    As the public continues to voice its frustration with the local COVID-19 vaccine process, Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter says she understands the frustration and that the ‘buck stops’ with the Health Department. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris declined to comment.

    By Don Wade February 09, 2021

  • Vaccination advances with second doses at Pipkin, first doses continue at other locations

    Second-dose shots at the Pipkin Center this week will not hinder distribution of the first dose as many still await vaccination, officials said. 

    By Daja E. Henry February 03, 2021

  • What Shelby County can learn from vaccine rollout across the nation

    As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, here’s what Shelby County can learn from other areas around the nation. 

    By Daja E. Henry February 03, 2021

• January 2021

  • Health Dept. testing messaging system for vaccine standby list

    After receiving a text, people would have four hours to get to a vaccination site.

    By Jane Roberts January 26, 2021

  • Strickland and Harris want larger share of vaccine

    The two mayors, in an extended interview on “Behind The Headlines,” say new vaccines that don’t require two doses or sub-zero refrigeration could work better for meeting the need countywide. 

    By Bill Dries January 15, 2021

  • What will history say about COVID vaccine delivery, administration?

    Delivery and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine is just another step on the long road toward herd immunity. Getting there will require a level of effectiveness apart from the vaccine itself. History will judge leaders’ success as we all pursue a return to the “old” normal. 

    By Don Wade January 11, 2021

  • County Commission vote on relief fund represents critical juncture

    The commission votes Monday, Jan. 11, on a $1.2 million relief fund for restaurant workers. The fund’s fate could point the way toward a greater change in the priorities of county government called for by the Democratic county mayor and majority on the commission.

    By Bill Dries January 11, 2021

  • Harris says restaurant workers relief aimed at those most affected

    The Shelby County Commission votes Monday, Jan. 11, on the proposed $2.5 million fund drawn from county reserves. 

    By Bill Dries January 08, 2021

  • Efforts underway to create equitable access to COVID-19 vaccine

    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

    By Omer Yusuf January 07, 2021

  • Harris proposes county $2.5M restaurant workers relief fund

    Harris took the proposal for grants of $1,000 per qualified worker to commission committee sessions Wednesday, Jan. 6.

    By Bill Dries January 06, 2021

  • Pipkin Building will be vaccination site through early summer

    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.

    By Jane Roberts January 06, 2021

• December 2020

  • COVID data in each surge led to different decisions locally

    Each coronavirus surge in Shelby County came with an increase in cases, hospitalizations and deaths that preceded the previous one as transmission rose significantly.

    By Omer Yusuf December 22, 2020

  • Shelby County reaches peak of COVID-19 cases

    From Dec. 5 to Dec. 19, the Health Department reported an average of 691 new cases and 6,093 test results each day with a 11.3% positivity rate. One hundred thirty-two coronavirus-related deaths have been reported since Dec. 1. That represents 16.4% of all pandemic deaths in Shelby County. 

    By Omer Yusuf December 20, 2020

  • Some businesses already feel pain of possible lockdown

    A new health directive is looming – one that could significantly tighten restrictions for the upcoming holidays.

    By Jennifer Biggs, Omer Yusuf December 19, 2020

  • Health Department releases some data about coronavirus investigations

    The Daily Memphian asked Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter and county Mayor Lee Harris for data used to make decisions about health directives affecting restaurants, and the Health Department released some information Dec. 3.

    By Jennifer Biggs December 06, 2020

  • COVID in restaurants? Owners want proof but Health Dept. ignoring the request

    The president of the Memphis Restaurant Association doesn’t know of any local restaurateur who has been contacted and told that a diner in their place of business tested positive for the coronavirus. 

    By Jennifer Biggs December 01, 2020

• November 2020

  • Coronavirus: 509 new cases in Shelby County, but no new deaths

    On Monday, new directives from the Shelby County Health Department go into effect and put new restrictions on businesses.

    By Linda A. Moore November 23, 2020

  • Opinion: Conservative commissioner says we can ‘Live divided, together’

    I’m a Republican serving with a Democratic majority, in a blue county of a red state. Shelby County government may not be the perfect model of comity, but the nation could take courage from how well we get along.

    By Mick Wright November 20, 2020

  • Harris: Pitch for West Tennessee mask mandate will be ‘a slog’

    Mayors from the West Tennessee counties outside Shelby County heard a pitch from Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and others Thursday for a regional mask mandate. Harris says Gov. Bill Lee is unlikely to order a statewide mask requirement. The regional effort will move to one-on-one talks.

    By Bill Dries November 19, 2020

  • Harris order begins county green fleet pilot

    With $500,000 in federal grant money, the small-scale pilot includes electric vehicle chargers as well as a broader reconsideration of how county government makes the decision of which vehicles to purchase.

    By Bill Dries November 18, 2020

  • Health Department looks at tripwires as coronavirus cases mount

    From 450 contact tracing interviews last week, the Health Department sees transmission is happening when people take masks off in restaurants, in gyms and in small social gatherings. 

    By Jane Roberts November 17, 2020

  • Harris pushes statewide mask rule, works on ways around refusal by state

    The effort short of a statewide mask mandate includes a coalition of local leaders across West Tennessee. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said he is also working on a long-term plan for the county to continue to deal with the pandemic through 2021 and after federal CARES Act funding runs out at the end of December.

    By Bill Dries November 13, 2020

  • Coronavirus: West Tenn. leaders urge caution, collaboration

    Without a statewide mask mandate, leaders across West Tennessee are working to help people understand there is not a rural and urban virus.

    By Jane Roberts November 12, 2020