The Shelby County Health Department reported 611 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, Dec. 24. The new cases come from 5,207 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 11.7%.

According to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System, 95% of area ICU and 91% of area acute care beds were in use.

For perspective, the death toll for first nine months of the pandemic is 821 as of Tuesday, Dec. 22.

The city’s representatives in the U.S. Senate split on the bipartisan $900 billion package while the city’s two Congressmen both voted for the bill.

The council action wasn’t unanimous and it follows a split vote the day before by the Shelby County Commission expressing support for the countywide directive that takes effect the day after Christmas.

Fund to help service industry workers is created as new Health Directive 16 will put more strain on service industry workers. 

The Shelby County Health Department reported 905 new coronavirus cases and three new coronavirus related deaths on Tuesday, Dec. 22. 

About 44% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive or suspected of having coronavirus.

Shelby County commissioners voted Monday, Dec. 21, to support a health department directive announced earlier in the day and, in a separate vote, to give the health department the authority to cite and fine business owners for violating the directive.

A revised health directive released Monday, Dec. 21, by the Shelby County Health Department is better than a draft leaked to the media earlier, suburban and county leaders say, but still causes some concerns. Related story: New, restrictive health directive out, effective Dec. 26

The numbers will be updated twice a week.

New health directive released Monday afternoon puts more restrictions on businesses. 

Related story: Suburban, county leaders still have concerns about revised health directive

FedEx Express workers describe how first shipment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines moved through the Memphis world hub and beyond on Sunday, Dec. 20.

CBU also delays graduation ceremony, with plans to honor graduates of both 2020 and 2021 at the Renasant Convention Center May 29, 2021.

The 778 cases come from 6,934 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 11.2%.

Peak preparation expenses cost more and took longer to get set due to more restrictions and safety considerations surrounding COVID-19, FedEx Ground’s president and CEO said. 

While area nonprofits have felt the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, Memphis has lived up to its reputation as a “giving” city and help also has come from national funding sources. 

A temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit and a $600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans is part of the pact. 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee again refused to order a statewide mask mandate Sunday, Dec. 20, instead ordering a statewide limit on indoor public social gatherings of no more than 10 people excluding homes and churches.

Shoppers grabbed holiday essentials and last-minute items as a Safer at Home order looms.

The first truckload of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine destined for U.S. administration sites rolled into the FedEx Express world hub in Memphis about 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 20.

Shelby County Health Department reported 510 new cases and an additional six deaths in Sunday’s daily coronavirus report.

From Dec. 5 to Dec. 19, the Health Department reported an average of 691 new cases and 6,093 test results each day with a 11.3% positivity rate. One hundred thirty-two coronavirus-related deaths have been reported since Dec. 1. That represents 16.4% of all pandemic deaths in Shelby County. 

Domestic violence has exploded this year locally and across the country since the novel coronavirus struck – a pandemic within a pandemic that’s filled police blotters with a spike in accounts of extreme brutality.

FedEx said Saturday, Dec. 19, it’s ready to start moving the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19.