Coronavirus: Case counts under 100 for fifth day straight
Helen Smith, 81, gets a COVID-19 vaccine at the Southwest Community College Whitehaven Center Feb. 6, 2021. COVID-19 case counts were under 100 for the fifth consecutive day in Shelby County. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian file)
The Shelby County Health Department reported 86 new coronavirus cases and five additional deaths Sunday, Feb. 21. This marks the fifth consecutive day of case counts under 100, as winter weather imposed a weather-forced lockdown this past week.
Today’s new cases come from 1,169 tests, yielding a 7.3% positivity rate. The 86 additional cases bring the county’s total case count to 86,865, with 83,844 classified as inactive or recovered. Total confirmed and probable coronavirus-related deaths in the county stand at 1,459.
There have been 104,364 vaccines administered in Shelby County, with 74,619 people receiving at least a first dose, and the remaining 29,745 doses given to people who are now fully vaccinated after receiving a second dose.
Due to inclement weather, county vaccination sites have been shut down several days, with the exception of the Whitehaven site at 1234 Finley. It opened Saturday and Sunday for make-up appointments.
The county is currently vaccinating those in phases 1a1, 1a2, and people 70 years and older. Starting on Wednesday, Feb. 24, those in phase 1b of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan will be eligible to receive vaccines. This includes residents who are 65 years and older, teachers, and child care staff.
Regional hospital data
There were 259 COVID-positive patients in area hospitals as of Friday, Feb. 19, the latest data available through the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System. Hospitalization data for the weekend will be provided in the health department’s Monday update.
According to the HRTS, 91% of staffed ICU beds and 89% of staffed acute care beds were in use Friday. Of those occupied beds, COVID-positive patients make up 20% and 9%, respectively.
Hospital capacity figures include numbers from facilities in Shelby, Tipton and Lauderdale counties in Tennessee as well as facilities in Crittenden County, Arkansas, and DeSoto County, Mississippi.
The Tennessee Department of Health releases statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
Topics
coronavirus Shelby County Health Department Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System Coronavirus testing COVID-19 vaccineDaja E. Henry
Daja E. Henry is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a graduate of Howard University and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and currently is a general assignment reporter.
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