COVID-19 task force briefings go back to twice-weekly

By , Daily Memphian Published: October 27, 2020 11:45 AM CT
<strong>Shelby County Health Department Deputy Director/Chief of Epidemiology David Sweat (right) gives an update Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 during a COVID-19 task force briefing.</strong> (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Shelby County Health Department Deputy Director/Chief of Epidemiology David Sweat (right) gives an update Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 during a COVID-19 task force briefing. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Following a marked rise in new coronavirus cases, COVID-19 task force briefings are back to twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On Oct. 6, the twice-weekly COVID-19 task force briefings had shifted to once a week, on Tuesdays.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 301 new coronavirus cases and three new related deaths on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Those 301 cases were the result of 2,925 tests, which gives the day a positivity rate of 10.3%.

In Shelby County, 541,919 coronavirus tests have been performed; 8% of those have been positive. And 314,599 people have been tested for coronavirus; 12% of those have received a positive test result. (Some people have been tested multiple times, so the total numbers differ.)


Shelby County sees another day of 400-plus new COVID cases


Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 36,793 cases, including 33,275 inactive cases (recoveries), 2,952 active cases and 566 deaths.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, there were 262 COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds, per state data; 76 were in intensive care units.

According to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System, 89% of area ICU and 90% of area acute care beds were occupied.

About 21% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive (76) or suspected of having coronavirus (1). About 10% of area acute care patients were either COVID-positive (186) or suspected of having coronavirus (29).

And 46 ICU and 236 acute care beds were available.

Area hospital data is reflective of all hospital facilities within Shelby, Lauderdale and Tipton counties in Tennessee; Crittenden County, Arkansas, and DeSoto County, Mississippi.

Tennessee’s Department of Health reports coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.

As of Monday, the agency reported 249,866 coronavirus cases, including 3,163 deaths, 1,098 current hospitalizations and 219,230 inactive cases (recoveries).

About 3.6 million coronavirus tests have been performed in Tennessee.

Topics

coronavirus Shelby County Health Department Tennessee Department of Health Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System COVID-19 Joint Task Force
Elle Perry

Elle 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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