Coronavirus: Day’s positivity rate falls to under 7%
Health care workers wait for the next drive-thru patient as staff from Christ Community Health Services administer COVID-19 tests at a tent behind its South Memphis clinic on March 21, 2020. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
The local daily positivity rate fell to 6.8% with the latest Health Department data, a number that compares to other area lows in the past (6.6% on Aug. 2; 5.4% on June 23).
But the number of COVID-positive patients in local hospitals rose to 265, as of 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, according to the state’s Healthcare Resource Tracking System, up from 246 the day prior.
Hospital bed usage is also up.
According to the same HRTS data, 87% of ICU beds and 88% of acute care beds were in use at area hospitals. The day prior those percentages were 79% of ICU beds and 84% of acute care beds.
About 30% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive (101) or suspected of having the virus (12). And, about 9% of area acute care patients were either COVID-positive (164) or suspected of having the virus (27).
According to the state’s HRTS, there were 54 ICU beds and 305 acute care beds available in area hospitals.
The Shelby County Health Department reported 122 new coronavirus cases and no new related deaths on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
Those 122 new cases come from 1,803 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 6.8%.
Shelby County’s reported total is now 26,528 coronavirus cases and 366 deaths.
The Tennessee Department of Health reports statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Monday, Aug. 24, the agency reported 144,604 coronavirus cases, including 1,588 deaths, 6,421 hospitalizations and 106,041 recoveries.
More than 2 million coronavirus tests have been administered in Tennessee.
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Shelby County Health Department Tennessee Department of Health coronavirus Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking SystemElle Perry
A native Memphian, Elle Perry has earned graduate degrees from the University of Memphis and Maryland Institute College of Art. She’s written for publications including the Memphis Business Journal, Memphis Flyer and High Ground News, and previously served as coordinator of The Teen Appeal.
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