Health Dept. provides coronavirus updates
Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter gives an update about the coronavirus on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 during a COVID-19 task force briefing. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian file)
During Tuesday’s Joint COVID-19 Task Force briefing, the Shelby County Health Department announced Health Directive No. 13. It goes into effect 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
The new directive allows full-service restaurants and limited-service restaurants/bars to remain open until midnight. It also allows restaurants to have up to eight patrons seated at table, up from six.
For sporting venues, social distancing has been reduced to 6 feet, down from 12 feet.
The previous directive, No. 12, went into effect on Wednesday, Sept. 23. It lifted business occupancy restrictions except requiring 6 feet between patrons. It allowed limited-service restaurants to reopen with the same requirements as full-service restaurants.
It also outlined safety measures for hookah/vaping lounges, cigar bars/lounges and multi-person biking vehicles (party bikes).
Current Coronavirus Statistics
The local health department reported 258 new coronavirus cases and two new related deaths on Tuesday.
Director Alisa Haushalter said that reflects many days of testing.
“We are still trending downward, doing it slowly and incrementally,” she said.
The total is 490 deaths, which is 1.5% of overall cases.
Recovered or inactive are more than 94% of cases; about 1,400 active cases are still in the process of recovering.
Testing
For testing locations at 2355 Appling City Cove and Lamar Avenue (1720 RKS Commercial Cove) you no longer need an appointment. Testing hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
City of Memphis Doug McGowen said Shelby County can perform 11,500 tests per week.
“We are using 25% of that capacity now,” he said. “Please get tested.”
Contact Tracing
Haushalter said 86% of contact investigations are closed. The agency has identified 28,000 contacts.
In terms of case investigation and contact tracing, Haushalter said that employers are helping.
“It’s critically important they notify the health department when they have a positive case,” she said.
Compliance
When asked about compliance, Haushalter said the agency specifically has teams out on weekends, including nights. It could be focused on a specific type of facility.
“It is really important that people call as soon as they notice a business is not in compliance, not waiting for the weekend,” she said. “The number to call is (901) 222-MASK.”
Now that not much is closed, the focus is on social distancing and masking, Haushalter said.
When asked if the health department will be watching the University of Memphis’ crowd at the Liberty Bowl, Haushalter said the department will do some monitoring, but in any event space, the department has the expectation that they (the hosts) will do monitoring themselves.
“We have to rely heavily on leaders and organizers in those venues,” she said.
901 Student Passport
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris announced a “901 Student Passport” program, which allows free admission to museums for students who cannot partake in their normal field trips because of the pandemic.
Also, the Dixon Gallery & Gardens is offering free memberships for any teacher in Shelby County.
Topics
coronavirus Shelby County Health DepartmentJane Roberts
Longtime journalist Jane Roberts is a Minnesotan by birth and a Memphian by choice. She's lived and reported in the city more than two decades. She covers business news and features for The Daily Memphian.
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