Using surrogate viruses developed by UTHSC professor, labs working on COVID vaccines and boosters can check their efficacy without using the dangerous SARS-CoV-2 virus. 

The Shelby County Health Department reported 319 new coronavirus cases and 7 additional deaths on Sunday, Feb. 7.

From Jan. 23 to Saturday, the Health Department reported an average of 325 new cases and 3,593 test results a day with a 9% positivity rate. While the case average is still higher than in most points of the pandemic, that’s a notable decline from the previous two-week period.

The Shelby County Health Department partnered with Southwest Tennessee Community College to begin administering first doses of the Pfizer vaccine Friday at the school’s Whitehaven center at 1234 Finley Road.

The 23 reported deaths range from Nov. 16, 2020 to Feb. 3, 2021, according to the Health Department.

Pharmacy student alleges her First Amendment rights were violated by the school.

Since March, the Health Department has reported 84,123 total coronavirus cases and 1,348 deaths, classifying 79,397 cases as inactive/recovered.

Brown Baptist Church in Southaven is hosting a blood drive to combat the nationwide blood shortage that has been worsened by the pandemic. 

Gov. Bill Lee talked with SCS Superintendent Joris Ray about potentially returning children to classes by Feb. 15. Dozens of Tennessee counties have progressed to Phase 1b, which includes teachers in the vaccination priority list.

The 220 new cases come from 1,985 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 11.1%.

In early data of vaccination rates among people 75 and over, so few Latino people have been vaccinated their percentage of the whole is 0.4%.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 22 new coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday, Feb. 4. 

While no other lab has confirmed the case yet, local experts say the cluster of people around the suspected case could quickly move it to community transmission. 

The state’s largest school system – Shelby County Schools – becomes the only school system in the state to have no in-person classes as Metro Nashville Schools resumes some in-person classes Thursday, Feb. 4.

Discussion of Shelby County increasing vaccine sites countywide includes a possibility of Frayser. The Health Department already has a first-dose location at the Whitehaven Center of Southwest Tennessee Community College.

Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray has stood firm with all-remote learning, and accuses state leaders of being out of touch with the needs of Memphis students, who are mostly Black and disproportionately affected by the deadly virus. 

While theme parks, baseball parks and football stadiums are being used to distribute vaccines nationwide, city and county officials say the Mid-South Coliseum is not a candidate for a mass vaccination site.

As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, here’s what Shelby County can learn from other areas around the nation. 

Traffic at the Pipkin Building for COVID-19 vaccines was at a trickle Tuesday because the site was only available for the few ready for a second dose. 

The move, announced jointly with Victory Cruise Lines Tuesday, Feb. 2, will take effect for cruises July 1 and later.

In an address to the Memphis Rotary Club, Dr. Jon McCullers gave a practical picture of the road ahead for Shelby County’s pandemic response in 2021. 

Health Department survey will allow positive case investigation to happen online instead of in phone interviews.

It may be a day or more before the case is confirmed.

About 24% of patients in area ICU beds were COVID-positive or suspected of having the coronavirus.