There are 92 article(s) tagged COVID-19 testing:
The Tennessee Air National Guard has scheduled a statewide “Salute to Healthcare Heroes” flyover on Tuesday, May 12. A C-17 cargo plane based at the 164th Air Lift Wing at Memphis International Airport is scheduled to soar over the Memphis area from 2.to 2:15 p.m.
Gov. Bill Lee extended continuation of a previous executive order to boost social distancing efforts. It maintains extended deadlines for motor vehicles and handgun permits and encourages working from home.
Shelby County’s COVID-19 case rate remained stable over the past month as testing numbers rose and the positivity rate continued a steady decline, according to Shelby County Health Department data.
This is the fifth time in the past eight days, Shelby County reported at least 100 new coronavirus cases. The average is about 96 new cases a day as testing numbers over the same eight-day span is 1,407.
Shelby County Health Department confirmed 50 new cases Wednesday, May 27, as testing numbers decreased to 821.
Shelby County reported 4,531 total cases with 94 deaths and 3,047 recoveries
Mayor Jim Strickland’s proposal to expand testing moves the city closer to a more ambitious scaling up of COVID-19 testing as local health experts explore an even broader scale for the long term.
State Rep. Barbara Cooper announced Thursday that free, voluntary testing for COVID-19 will begin next week in many of the city’s housing units in Memphis.
Vehicle admission will be limited per screen and guests must purchase a carload ticket in advance.
Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter said there are “no significant barriers” to reopening, but that it would be premature to reopen before the full 14 days.
The latest COVID-19 data is consistent with the trend the pandemic is stabilizing in Shelby County.
County health department data shows 3,523 coronavirus cases, 78 deaths and 2,115 recoveries as of Thursday. A total of 46,444 tests were administered locally for COVID-19.
The stabilization of Shelby County’s COVID-19 new case rate, along with increased testing and the steadily declining positivity rate, are among factors officials are considering when deciding whether Memphis and Shelby County should expand the reopening plan in the coming weeks.
One consistent trend in the past couple of weeks is a higher number of tests leads to a higher number of cases, and the same can be largely said for the reverse. That’s led to a declining positivity rate despite the day-to-day fluctuation of daily new cases and testing numbers.
Shelby County reported 3,421 coronavirus cases, 72 deaths and 1,959 recoveries as of Tuesday, according to the health department. The total of tests reported is 43,906 or 4.7% of Shelby County’s population.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said there is “solid progress” on indicators of success, including testing capacity with an “upward trajectory."
Government officials try to get a handle on outbreaks with ramped up coronavirus tests.
Shelby County reported 3,113 coronavirus cases with 66 deaths and 1,803 recoveries from the virus as of Friday, according to the health department.
The health department reported an additional death due to the virus, with the total now at 58. Shelby County has 2,948 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 26 cases from the day prior. That’s the lowest single-day total in a month.
The state has been working with the Tennessee Board of Dentistry to allow dentists to open starting Wednesday, the governor said. Small recreational facilities such as bowling alleys and putt-putt golf can reopen Friday.
Shelby County has reported 3,040 coronavirus cases with 64 deaths and 1,739 recoveries, as of Thursday, according to the health department. The number of tests administered in Shelby County is 36,878.
The recent data will likely serve as a of baseline when it comes to making future decisions on evaluating whether or not Shelby County’s cases have stabilized or shown a downward trend over a 14-day period.
Tuesday's total was the lowest single day total in six days, and the first time in that span the number of new tests fell below 1,200, much less 1,000.
The looming question now is how will the phased-in reopening affect the county’s progress in slowing the spread of the virus in recent weeks.
Increased testing shows the county’s COVID-19 task force is approaching the goal of testing 1,000 people daily. A declining rate of positive cases reflects evidence that the spread of the virus has slowed.