Coronavirus: 231 new cases, but positivity rate drops to less than 5%
Christ Community Health Services staff members collect nasal swabs during a walk-up coronavirus testing on September 17, 2020 at the Orange Mound Health Center. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
After several days of reporting three or more new coronavirus related deaths, the Shelby County Health Department reported only one new death on Monday, Sept. 21.
The Health Department reported zero new deaths on Tuesday, Sept. 15; since then, the agency has reported three to five deaths daily.
On Monday, the Health Department also reported 231 new coronavirus cases.
Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 30,486 cases, including 28,331 inactive cases/recoveries, 446 deaths, and 1,709 active cases.
The 231 new cases come from 5,307 tests, which gives the day a positivity rate of 4.4%.
The Health Department’s recent change in how it reports testing totals means that the number now reflects total testing volume. So, the testing total includes those tested more than once.
According to Health Department data, 428,525 total tests have been performed in Shelby County; 267,562 people have been tested.
There were 161 COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds as of 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, per state data; 76 of those were in intensive care units.
According to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System, 85% of area ICU and 84% of area acute care beds were in use.
About 23% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive (76) or suspected of having the virus (5). About 5% of area acute care patients were either COVID-positive (85) or suspected of having the virus (17).
And 63 area ICU and 396 area acute care beds were available.
The Tennessee Department of Health reports statewide coronavirus statistics at 2 p.m.
As of Sunday, Sept. 20, the agency reported 183,514 coronavirus cases, including 2,218 deaths, 662 current hospitalizations and 165,844 inactive cases/recoveries.
About 2.7 million tests have been performed in Tennessee.
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coronavirus Shelby County Health Department Tennessee Department of HealthElle Perry
A native Memphian, Elle Perry has earned graduate degrees from the University of Memphis and Maryland Institute College of Art. She’s written for publications including the Memphis Business Journal, Memphis Flyer and High Ground News, and previously served as coordinator of The Teen Appeal.
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