Coronavirus Live Blog, May 26: Collierville shifts fireworks to Labor Day
A small crowd gathered to pay their respects during a Memorial Day ceremony at Memorial Park Cemetery May 25, 2020. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
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- Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
- Wear a mask when you are out in public
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- Avoid close contact (within 6 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
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.
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May 26, 2020
Collierville reschedules fireworks
Collierville will is postponing its annual July 3 fireworks show.
More than 20,000 people gather in H.W. Cox Park annually the day before the national holiday. In 2020, the town will hold its large fireworks show and celebrate its 150th anniversary during Labor Day weekend on Saturday, Sept. 5.
“The Collierville Independence Day Celebration is one of my favorite Town traditions, but the popularity of the event poses too great of a risk for us to proceed in July,” Mayor Stan Joyner said in a release. “Our event staff will bring all of our favorite parts of the Independence Day Celebration to our event in September creating a Collierville 150th celebration that we will remember for years to come.”
Read MoreLocal coronavirus fund tops $2 million in grants dispersed
With its most recent distribution of $95,000, a local coronavirus relief fund has now surpassed $2 million in distributed grants.
The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis announced that the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund awarded its tenth round of grants to seven organizations. The fund supports organizations impacted by coronavirus.
Individuals, businesses and foundations have donated more than $3.6 million to the fund; $2 million was been awarded to organizations since March 18.
The latest grants are as follows:
Read MoreCOVID-19 in Tennessee
How cases are growing in Shelby County and Tennessee
Read More
Local and state coronavirus cases, tests and recoveries
Tennessee cases rise by 358, deaths by 5
Tennessee has 358 more confirmed coronavirus cases and five more deaths resulting from the disease, according to the Department of Health.
That brings the statewide total to 20,965 confirmed coronavirus cases and 343 deaths.
The new cases come from 7,258 tests; a positivity rate of 4.9% percent; 403,504 tests have been administered total. The overall positivity rate is 5.2%.
More than 1,600 people (1,609) have ever been hospitalized as a result of the disease; 13,344 are considered officially recovered.
Mississippi cases grow by 273, deaths by 17
Mississippi has 273 more coronavirus cases and 17 new deaths resulting from the disease, according to the state’s Department of Health.
Eight of those newly reported deaths actually occurred between May 13-18 and were identified through death certificate reports, according to the agency.
The statewide total to 13,731 confirmed cases and 652 deaths, according to the agency.
DeSoto County has 485 confirmed cases and six deaths resulting from the disease. Fifteen cases and two deaths are linked to long-term care facilities.
Read MoreHealth Department: Transmission happening in households, workplaces
Memphis and Shelby County Joint COVID-19 Task Force briefings go down to twice a week starting this week -- on Tuesday and Thursday.
Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter said they are “not overly concerned” about averaging around 100 new cases per day over the weekend.
The bump in cases is a number of things: Some due to a lapse in social distancing as the weather has gotten warmer. But in general, more people are out.
She said people may have to try several masks to find what is most comfortable.
Read MoreWatch today’s COVID-19 Joint Task Force briefing
Starting today, Memphis and Shelby County Joint COVID-19 Task Force press briefings will be held only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Today’s briefing is scheduled for noon and set to feature Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter.
Watch below:
Shelby County cases rise as testing jumps over 2,100
Shelby County confirmed 127 new coronavirus cases as testing numbers rose to 2,107 on Tuesday, May 26, according to local health department data.
The daily positivity rate of the 2,107 tests was 6%.
Shelby County reported 4,531 total cases with 94 deaths and 3,047 recoveries. One new death was reported from the virus Tuesday.
A total of 66,968 tests were confirmed, and the overall positivity rate countywide is 6.8%
Read MoreMay 25, 2020
Tennessee cases increase by 462, deaths by 2
Tennessee has 462 more confirmed coronavirus cases and two new deaths resulting from the disease, according to the state’s Department of Health.
That brings the statewide total to 20,607 confirmed cases and 338 deaths.
The 462 new cases come from 12,643 tests, a positivity rate of 3.65%.
In Tennessee, 13,073 people are considered officially recovered from the disease; 1,594 were ever hospitalized at any point.
Read MoreMississippi cases increase by 206, deaths by 10
There are 206 more confirmed coronavirus cases and 10 new deaths resulting from the disease in Mississippi, according to the state’s Department of Health.
That brings the total to 13,458 confirmed cases and 635 deaths.
The agency did not give a breakdown of county totals or number of tests administered on Monday.
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