The total number of cases since early March now totals 77,566.

From Jan. 2 to Jan. 16, the Health Department reported an average of 589 new cases and 4,266 tests results a day with a 13.8% positivity rate.

The 535 COVID-19 cases reported Saturday resulted from 5,199 tests, yielding a 10.3% positivity rate. The positivity rate for Tennessee is 14.8%.

Lakeland officials say they understand the seriousness of the virus, but want better collaboration with the Health Department.

The two mayors, in an extended interview on “Behind The Headlines,” say new vaccines that don’t require two doses or sub-zero refrigeration could work better for meeting the need countywide. 

The 491 cases come from 4,472 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 11%.

Toni Woods feels safer after second dose, but she knows her patients and her mother still need her to keep working, avoid risk.

Haushalter: “We are scheduled to receive 8,900 doses in one week; only a portion is coming to public health. We do not have sufficient supply. We have sufficient resources and manpower.”

On Thursday, the Shelby County Health Department reported 31 additional coronavirus-related deaths. But, those deaths have dates as wide-ranging as Dec. 2 to Jan. 11, the agency said. 

In addition to those deaths, the Health Department also reported 548 new coronavirus cases.

Early results on who has received vaccine so far in Shelby County and Tennessee show some disparities, with a large percentage of recipients statewide being of “unknown” race, which is a problem, experts say. 

There were 565 COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System. 

The Health Department is making notes for rolling out mass COVID-19 vaccinations in other neighborhoods.

While Shelby County is resuming distribution of its limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine, surrounding Tennessee counties are out. 

While cases and hospitalizations remain higher than the benchmarks set by local health officials, the pandemic is plateauing following the Christmas and New Year’s surge, Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter said.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 508 new coronavirus cases and 10 new coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

As the Health Department resumes vaccinations, it reported just over 500 new coronavirus cases. 

District officials said they expect money they will get from the latest federal relief package could be about four times higher than last time, or about $190 million. 

The Trump administration is asking states to speed delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to people 65 and older and to others at high risk by no longer holding back the second dose of the two-dose shots, officials said Tuesday.

Republican commissioners said their “no” votes were because of concerns about the use of county reserves to create the $2.5 million fund. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is asking Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to reimburse the county funding with state money.

Through January, the Shelby County Health Department will be vaccinating in a drive-thru line at the Pipkin Building. 

Delivery and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine is just another step on the long road toward herd immunity. Getting there will require a level of effectiveness apart from the vaccine itself. History will judge leaders’ success as we all pursue a return to the “old” normal. 

Variant doesn’t appear to be more virulent but could ramp reproduction rate here from 1.07 to 1.57 and dramatically increase deaths.