The state’s Department of Education is expected to announce details Thursday about a plan to share COVID-19 school data, said Commissioner Penny Schwinn.

With coronavirus cases dropping, the University of Memphis may bring more students back to campus as early as Sept. 14, though the university says it may not be able to accommodate all faculty requests to return classes to campus.

Plus, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris on Tuesday announced $5,000 in funding for Senior Tech Connect, a new county program that will connect long-term care facilities with technology so residents can see their families.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, there were 215 COVID-positive people in area hospitals, according to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System; 87 of those were in ICUs. 

About 24% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive or suspected of having the virus and about 7% of acute care patients were either COVID-positive or suspected of having the virus.

The threshold is not as strict as a demand from teacher protesters who called for keeping all classes online until the county reported no new coronavirus cases for 14 days.

Assistant professor Shana Stoddard is helping students design antiviral compounds for COVID-19, raising the bar for what remote learning can be.

Those interested in being tested are asked to pre-register by either texting Test2020 to 91999 or by calling (901) 842-3160.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 120 new coronavirus cases and four new related deaths on Monday, Aug. 31.

Online car dealer Carvana has seen its stock price rise more than 700% since the pandemic started in March. 

There are 318 members of the Collierville High School community who are quarantined following eight confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“Mask for Memphis” raised about $25,000 during the past four months and distributed 2,600 masks at multiple mask giveaway events in Raleigh, Frayser and other North Memphis neighborhoods. Masks provided through the fundraiser are washable and reusable.

From August 15 to 29, the Shelby County Health Department reported an average of 176 new coronavirus cases and 1,709 test results a day with a 10.3% positivity rate.

Shelby County reported 2,020 more test results Saturday, returning a daily positivity rate of 10.9%. Tests reported are not solely from the preceding 24-hour period, but often from multiple days.

Students will learn remotely for two weeks. Three more coronavirus cases have been reported, bringing the total to eight. The entire varsity football team is in quarantine.

Many transplants institutes have suspended their work during the pandemic out of fear that it could lead to higher risk of death.

Bill Lee signed executive orders Friday extending Tennessee’s state of emergency until Sept. 30 and allowing mayors to put mask mandates in place.

The U.S. government purchased 150 million rapid-result antigen tests; up to a million are set aside for Tennessee.

Commercial banks and savings institutions nationally saw a decrease in net income of 70% from a year ago, according to a new report by the FDIC.

About 26% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive or suspected of having the virus. 

James and Peggy Jefferson were both diagnosed with and recovered from coronavirus in June. Now they can focus on keeping their business, Sherrod’s Furniture and Variety Store, afloat.

Memphis, Shelby County and the metro area in July recorded their highest unemployment rates since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Before moving to its larger Broad Avenue location in January 2019, Lucky Cat was previously located on Cooper Street.

Team members and coaches have the highest risk, said David Sweat, deputy director of the local health department.