There are 63 article(s) tagged Dr. Michelle Taylor:

• August 2021

  • New mask mandate goes into effect 7 a.m. Friday

    Masks will be required in all public, indoor settings, including restaurants and bars.

    By Jane Roberts August 19, 2021

  • Health Dept. Director: Shelby County mask mandate ‘needs to happen quickly’

    “We must have a universal mask mandate in Shelby County and it needs to happen quickly,” Health Department director Dr. Michelle Taylor told the County Commission Wednesday. 

    Related story: 
    Most — but not all — county commissioners support return to masks

    By Bill Dries August 18, 2021

  • ‘We are afraid:’ Doctors worry about strain on hospitals, need to protect children

    “The ERs are inundated,” said Dr. Shailesh Patel. “If we do not change course, we are headed to our darkest hours, our darkest days.”

    By Jane Roberts, Rob Moore August 13, 2021

  • Shelby County to start mandatory testing of unvaccinated staff

    Testing will begin Sept. 6 for Health Department staff.

    By Jane Roberts August 11, 2021

  • County Commission delays action on mask mandate, funding

    The delays to the Aug. 23 commission meeting followed a rancorous debate among commissioners and between commissioners and anti-maskers who taunted one commissioner online before Monday’s session.

    By Bill Dries August 10, 2021

  • 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. 

    By Jane Roberts August 06, 2021

  • 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.

    By Jane Roberts August 04, 2021

• July 2021

  • 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.

    By Jane Roberts July 28, 2021

  • Commissioners approve Taylor as health director, Mitchell-Sims for judicial vacancy

    Shelby County commissioners chose Dr. Michelle Taylor as the new head of the county’s Health Department Monday, and they picked Judicial Commissioner Danielle Mitchell-Sims to fill a General Sessions judge vacancy. 

    By Bill Dries July 26, 2021

  • County Commission returns from five-week break

    Monday’s commission agenda includes confirming a health director whose nomination is in trouble, possibly reopening the contentious question of a property tax hike, a long-delayed decision on a voting system for the county, and appointing a new judge.

    By Bill Dries July 26, 2021

  • The Early Word: Good sports news offsets bad health news

    Bad air joins our health worries, while politicians wrangle with health departments in Memphis and Nashville. But better sidewalks, AutoZone Park, the Milwaukee Bucks and even the TVA give us reason to smile.

    By Andrew A. Smith July 22, 2021

  • Health Department panel recommended Harris pass on Taylor as new director

    The nomination of Dr. Michelle Taylor as the new Shelby County Health Department director drew fire Wednesday, July 21, with distribution of a May memo to Mayor Lee Harris that said a search panel recommended not picking Taylor and continuing the search.

    By Bill Dries July 21, 2021

  • Health Department nominee is pediatrician with broad experience

    The Shelby County Commission will vote on Taylor’s appointment on Monday, July 26.

    By Jane Roberts July 20, 2021