Shelby County returns to SignUpGenius
Due to glitches with the state’s VRAS vaccine signup program, Shelby County has reverted to SignUpGenius to schedule appointments, Mayor Jim Strickland announced.
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Due to glitches with the state’s VRAS vaccine signup program, Shelby County has reverted to SignUpGenius to schedule appointments, Mayor Jim Strickland announced.
From Feb. 27 through Saturday, Shelby County Health Department reported 82,037 total doses administered, with 55,920 people receiving their first dose and 26,117 more received their second vaccination.
“There are more than 100 qualified providers who can do vaccinations across Shelby County,” said City of Memphis COO Doug McGowen. “We made an allocation to 50 providers yesterday. Next week, 14,000 (doses) will go to those 50 providers.”
To build capacity, the City of Memphis expects to run five or six fixed vaccination sites plus one or two pop-up locations in neighborhoods where access is an issue.
From Feb. 20 to March 6, the Shelby County Health Department reported 66,592 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, compared to 28,705 in the preceding period.
City officials hope to vaccinate at least 700,000 people in Shelby County with at least one dose by Aug. 1. A total of 113,793 people have received at least one shot as of Friday, according to the Health Department.
The state Department of Health announced its decision to move into phase 1c Tuesday afternoon, and the Shelby County Health Department expanded eligibility to the same group Wednesday morning.
The first shipment of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is expected to arrive in Tennessee on Wednesday as local officials increase the anticipated number of vaccines administered by Aug. 1.
City Chief Operating Officer Doug McGowen is in charge of accountability for the city. Deputy of accountability is Fire Department Director Gina Sweat.
The city is investigating using a large call center at the University of Memphis for phone appointments.
State Health Department says next week’s supply of vaccine may be delayed due to the winter storms.
Memphis City Council members Tuesday approved a new office designed to intervene and prevent violence in the city.
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.
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.
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.
Coming restrictions have to include ways to limit transmission over the coming holidays, health officials say.
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.
Health Department, city leaders and hospitals accessing staffing, looking for more. Related Story: Health Dept.: Inspectors made multiple visits to All Black Affair
Four months of the COVID-19 pandemic carved $4.2 million out of annual income from the Downtown Memphis Tourism Development Zone.
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.
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.
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.
The positivity rate for COVID-19 tests is on the rise in Shelby County suburbs and rural West Tennessee.
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.
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.