Coronavirus live blog, April 19: Health Dept. confirms outbreak at Lakeside
Christ Community Health Services staff members Blake Chastain (left) and Derico Miller (right) setup a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site on Friday, April 17, 2020 in the Mendenhall Square Shopping Center. Christ Community will be opening virus testing sites in low-income area of Memphis starting this weekend. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Editor’s Note: The Daily Memphian is making our coronavirus coverage accessible to all readers — no subscription needed. Our journalists continue to work around the clock to provide you with the extensive coverage you need; if you can subscribe, please do.
You can protect yourself and help prevent the spread of coronavirus by:
- Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
- Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze
- Avoid close contact (within six feet) with people
- Stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean
To view the city’s stay-at-home order, click here.
Here’s the latest from Memphis and Shelby County, below, when it comes to dealing with the novel coronavirus. To view our full coverage, check out The Daily Memphian’s coronavirus landing page.
And, to get breaking news delivered directly to your inbox when it happens, opt in to our Breaking News updates here.
Tennessee reports 330 new COVID-19 cases
Tennessee Department of Health reported 330 new COVID-19 cases Sunday for a total of 7,070, and a total of 148 deaths.
The state is also reporting the most cases in Shelby County at 1,778.
The state says 51% of people with the virus are female, but 60% of the deaths are in males.
Statewide the number of cases is highest among those ages 21 -30. However, those 81 and older who have died make up 32% of the state’s deaths.
The state is reporting 47% of people have recovered, but the number only accounts for those who have been confirmed asymptomatic by their local health department.
Shelby County Health department identifies 35 new cases
Shelby County Health Department is reporting 35 new cases of coronavirus for a total of 1,766.
The department did not release new deaths, and the number remains at 37.
The county announced Lakeside Behavioral Health has three staff members who have tested positive.
A total of 18,212 people have been tested in Shelby County.
Read MoreMississippi reports 300 new cases, tops 4,000
Mississippi reported 300 new cases of coronavirus Sunday for a total of 4,274.
The state also released 2,203 of the cases affect African Americans – 100 0f them have died from COVID-19 complications.
The state is reporting 14 new cases in DeSoto County, which brings the total to 234. There are no new additional deaths, so the total remains at three. The state is still working with an outbreak at one of the county’s long-term care facilities. DeSoto County has the second-highest number of cases.
Marshall County is reporting a total of 38 cases, one more. The county remains at two deaths.
Hinds County has the highest number of cases at 337. Lauderdale County has 14 deaths, more than any other county.
Seven new deaths were reported Sunday for total of 159. The state reported 69 long-term care facilities have outbreaks.
The latest coronavirus cases, by the numbers
Demonstration outside City Hall
The press and Memphis Police outnumbered a small group of protesters Sunday, April 19, outside City Hall at one of a set of demonstrations in the state’s major cities against stay at home or “safer at home” orders.
Seven demonstrators were met by a line of six police patrol cars on Adams Avenue at North Main Street as well as several officers on foot and several patrols cars nearby.
The city’s “safer at home” emergency decree suspends all city permits for parades, demonstrations or any kind of mass gathering. But police made no effort to break up the small group led by Hal Rounds of Fayette County, Tennessee.
“Today what we are looking at is the government overstepping its authority and subduing freedom,” Rounds said as he noted the 245th anniversary of the Revolutionary War battles of Lexington and Concord.
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