There are 195 article(s) tagged Doug McGowen:

• February 2021

  • Missed shots slated for same days next week

    State Health Department says next week’s supply of vaccine may be delayed due to the winter storms.

    By Jane Roberts February 18, 2021

  • City nonviolence initiative partners with national nonprofit

    Memphis City Council members Tuesday approved a new office designed to intervene and prevent violence in the city. 

    By Bill Dries February 02, 2021

  • Pandemic fatigue: The fight we all share

    It has been almost 11 months since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Shelby County, and we are tired. Even those who want to follow all the protocols and continue the good fight are more likely to ‘slip’ now and then. It’s called human nature and surveys show that across the country, Americans are weary of the pandemic. 

    By Don Wade February 01, 2021

• January 2021

  • Council balks at violence intervention office, delays vote

    The council delayed a vote on getting the program started for a week. Council members generally back the idea of trying to intervene with those of both sides of violent crimes. But some saw too many law enforcement agencies involved in the initial pitch despite assurances it will instead be aimed at prevention.

    By Bill Dries January 26, 2021

  • McGowen on COVID vaccine: ‘Send us as much as you can’

    On “Behind The Headlines,” Doug McGowen, the city’s chief operating officer, and Dr. Jon McCullers of UTHSC said multiple plans to vaccinate more than 600,000 people in Shelby County are ready to be used and adjusted to roll with the circumstances.

    By Bill Dries January 22, 2021

• December 2020

  • Expect new restrictions on gatherings

    Coming restrictions have to include ways to limit transmission over the coming holidays, health officials say.

    By Jane Roberts December 18, 2020

  • Mud Island: Big ideas come with the territory

    Some Memphians regard Mud Island’s walkable Mississippi River model and museum as sacred, while others say nothing should be off the table as city leaders look to the future.

    By Wayne Risher December 10, 2020

  • Ambulances experience delays as hospitals look to increase staffing

    Health Department, city leaders and hospitals accessing staffing, looking for more.

    Related Story: Health Dept.: Inspectors made multiple visits to All Black Affair

    By Jane Roberts December 02, 2020

• November 2020

  • COVID takes bite out of Downtown tourism fund

    Four months of the COVID-19 pandemic carved $4.2 million out of annual income from the Downtown Memphis Tourism Development Zone. 

    By Wayne Risher November 30, 2020

  • Restaurateurs seek data and dialogue from Health Department

    The Memphis Restaurant Association wants to know why the Health Department rules continue to change for restaurants, and calls for better communication from health officials.

    By Jennifer Biggs, Jane Roberts, Bill Dries November 27, 2020

• October 2020

  • Health officials: COVID hospitalizations going up substantially

    In expanded contact tracing interviews the Health Department has done with 704 infected people in the last month, 63% had symptoms but were out shopping, meeting with friends and going to work.

    By Jane Roberts October 29, 2020

• September 2020

  • Shelby County’s COVID-19 positivity rate near 10% for past month

    From Aug. 29 to Saturday, Sept. 12, the Shelby County Health Department reported an average of 116 new cases and 1,173 test results a day with a 9.9% positivity rate.

    By Omer Yusuf September 12, 2020

  • Coronavirus cases stable in city but rising in suburbs, rural areas

    The positivity rate for COVID-19 tests is on the rise in Shelby County suburbs and rural West Tennessee.

    By Jane Roberts September 10, 2020

• July 2020

  • COVID Task Force in search of ‘testing czar’

    City of Memphis COO Doug McGowen said the local COVID-19 task force is in search of a “testing czar” to look at coronavirus testing in Shelby County.

    By Omer Yusuf July 23, 2020

  • The local fight against COVID-19: ongoing, often coordinated, far from finished

    Memphis/Shelby County made progress in the struggle against COVID-19, coming out of a Safer at Home order and advancing into a Phase 2 reopening. But Phase 2 has been modified, cases have spiked again, and there remain major concerns going forward, including whether or not elementary and secondary schools can reopen in the fall. 

    By Don Wade July 20, 2020

  • As COVID-19 transmission spreads, conversation about phasing continues

    Shelby County reported its highest single-day increase of new coronavirus cases with 394 Thursday. Over the past seven days, the county is averaging 273 new cases a day.

    By Omer Yusuf July 02, 2020

• June 2020

  • Phase 3 reopening to see partial restart of Riverside Drive traffic

    Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter says despite the recent spike in daily confirmed cases, she sees little reason to put off a move to Phase 3 on Monday.

    By Bill Dries June 11, 2020

  • Council ends budget season with core services intact

    Passing the $707.8 million city budget saw $1.8 million from a dozen line items moved around to items council members wanted and the use of city reserves that leaves the rainy day fund at a low level of 7% of the budget that starts July 1.

    By Bill Dries June 02, 2020

• May 2020

  • Phase 2 reopening decision likely to come Monday

    A Phase 2 reopening of the Memphis area economy appears imminent after Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter said Friday, May 15, she sees no significant barriers to a continued loosening of restrictions.

    By Bill Dries May 15, 2020

  • Surge prediction pushed to summer, broad compliance seen with ‘Back to Business’

    Three days into the first round of local business reopenings, there are lots of questions about the specific safeguards businesses are to take.

    By Bill Dries May 06, 2020

  • Behind the Headlines: Memphis COO discusses metrics to open city

    City of Memphis COO Doug McGowen discusses the metrics Memphis’ elected officials and health officers studied to determine when to start gradually reopening the city. 

    By Eric Barnes May 01, 2020

• April 2020

  • Temporary hospital could have life after pandemic

    The city's chief operating officer said on Behind The Headlines that the hospital is one example of how the pandemic has changed and will continue to change how the city addresses issues that existed before COVID-19 arrived.

    By Bill Dries April 30, 2020

  • Reopening the economy looks to be phased and possibly different for Shelby County

    The early discussions locally suggest businesses will reopen in waves and possibly with some new restrictions. 

    By Bill Dries April 14, 2020

  • Health officials note diminishing COVID-19 intensity, but urge vigilance

    COVID-19 Task Force briefing revealed rate of the novel coronavirus spread is slowing, but officials reiterate that citizens shouldn't relax on social distancing.

    By Jared Boyd April 10, 2020

  • Unprepared for COVID-19: Did Memphis, state missteps early on cost us?

    Did we do enough – soon enough – to avert a catastrophe that could overwhelm our local hospitals?

    By Marc Perrusquia, Natasha Senjanovic April 10, 2020