Coronavirus: Shelby County averaging 245 new cases per day
The Shelby County Health Department reported 256 new coronavirus cases and 19 new coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday, Oct. 6.
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The Shelby County Health Department reported 256 new coronavirus cases and 19 new coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday, Oct. 6.
“People don’t understand why they are being asked to name people. They don’t understand the whole role of contact tracing,” said Dr. Rebecca Wurtz, director of Public Health Administration and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
There are 3,855 reported active coronavirus cases, 1,267 — or 33% — of them pediatric.
Also stresses adherence to the mask mandate in K-12 schools and where compliance issues can be reported.
Shelby County Health Department Director Dr. Michelle Taylor said she was “cautiously optimistic as cases and the 7-day average and positivity rate are dropping.”
Thousands of locals — mostly children in lower socio-economic brackets — could be vulnerable to diseases such as measles, diphtheria and chicken pox.
There are 7,083 reported active cases, with 2,476 — or 35% — of those being pediatric.
The local Health Department is not planning on additional COVID-19 business restrictions at this time but “nothing is off the table,” said its director.
Trucks will be spraying in specific ZIP codes next week.
New order also gives details on who is eligible for boosters now and will be in September.
Out of the 1,826 COVID-19 deaths reported by the Shelby County Health Department since the coronavirus pandemic began, 10 were among vaccinated individuals.
While the Health Department has the authority to enact stricter rules, Director Taylor says she believes compliance with the new mask mandate will dampen the Delta surge.
Other examples include K-12 schoolchildren whose parents have asked in writing for masking exemptions.
Masks will be required in all public, indoor settings, including restaurants and bars.
Today, the Shelby County Health Department reported 915 new COVID-19 cases.
Students are still mandated to wear masks, unless parents present a formal, written request to school officials to opt out.
Shelby County Health Department director Dr. Michelle Taylor stands firm on agency’s authority to require masks.
Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright says even with recent changes in state laws this year, it’s unclear where the health department’s authority to issue mask mandates and require other measures ends and where decisions by elected officials begin.
Collierville will enforce masking at its schools. Students who do not mask will be sent home.
Watch live as the Shelby County COVID-19 Task Force addresses the latest developments in the coronavirus pandemic.
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.
As of 5 p.m. July 21, there were 162 COVID-19 positive people in area hospital beds.
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.
County Mayor Lee Harris plans to nominate a pediatrician and White Station High School graduate as the Shelby County Health Department’s next director.
A worker at an East Memphis restaurant was diagnosed with hepatitis A. Vaccinations are being encouraged for those who ate at the restaurant as a precaution.