Daily positivity rate spikes with newly reported tests
Christ Community Health Center medical staff collect nasal swabs as hundreds of Memphians line up for COVID-19 testing at its site in Hickory Hill on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian file)
The Shelby County Health Department reported 326 new coronavirus cases from only 610 tests on Thursday, giving the day a positivity rate of 53.4%.
In other words, more than half of new tests had a positive result.
Local health officials have stressed the need for a positivity rate below 10%; higher, they say, means community transmission.
The overall positivity rate is now 10.3% for Shelby County.
On July 21, officials said people should only get tested if they have symptoms or if they have been exposed, due to testing labs being at capacity.
The Health Department reported five more deaths resulting from the disease. Shelby County’s reported totals are now 20,382 coronavirus cases, including 273 deaths, 14,904 recoveries.
The number of active cases reported is 5,205.
The number of patients hospitalized for coronavirus in regional hospitals is 349, as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, according to the state’s Healthcare Resource Tracking System.
According to the HRTS, as of Wednesday, regional acute care beds are 91% full, compared to 90% the day prior. Of 2,220 patients in regional acute care beds, 226 are COVID-positive and 106 are under investigation for the virus, meaning that 15% are either COVID-positive or under investigation for the virus.
And 214 beds are available.
According to the HRTS, as of Wednesday, regional intensive care unit beds are 88% full, compared to 89% the day prior. Of 389 patients in regional ICU beds, 123 are COVID-positive and 15 and under investigation for the virus, meaning that about 35% are either COVID-positive or under investigation for the virus.
And 54 beds are available.
The state’s Department of Health reports statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily. As of July 29, Tennessee surpassed 100,000 reported cases and 1,000 deaths.
The reported statewide total is 100,822 cases, including 1,020 deaths, 4,482 hospitalizations and 62,129 recoveries.
Topics
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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