Coronavirus: More than 200 deaths reported in December
Christ Community Health Services staff members collect nasal swabs at a drive-thru coronavirus testing site on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020 on Lamar Avenue. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
The Shelby County Health Department reported 14 new coronavirus related deaths on the last day of December, bringing the total to 219 deaths reported during the month.
That compares to 104 deaths reported in October and 88 deaths reported in November.
(On Oct. 9, the agency reported 33 new deaths with death dates ranging from August 15 and October 1.)
Yesterday, the agency reported 16 new deaths with death dates ranging from Nov. 3 to Dec. 27.
On Thursday, the Health Department also reported 761 new coronavirus cases.
The 761 cases come from 4,588 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 16.7%.
(Courtesy: Shelby County Health Department)
Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 67,198 cases, including 59,815 inactive cases (recoveries), 6,492 active cases and 891 deaths.
There were 573 COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System.
According to the HRTS, 95% of area ICU and 88% of area acute care beds were in use.
About 38% of patients in area ICU beds were COVID-positive (151) or suspected of having the coronavirus (7). About 23% of patients in area acute care beds were either COVID-positive (422) or suspected of having the coronavirus (60).
And 24 area ICU and 283 area acute care beds were available.
Bed capacity is calculated by subtracting beds occupied by patients, unstaffed beds and beds that are otherwise unavailable.
The capacity figures are inclusive of all hospital facilities in Shelby, Tipton and Lauderdale counties in Tennessee as well as facilities in Crittenden County, Arkansas, and DeSoto County, Mississippi.
The Tennessee Department of Health releases statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Dec. 30, Tennessee’s reported coronavirus total is 580,809 cases, including 6,810 deaths, 3,212 current hospitalizations and 501,691 inactive cases (recoveries).
About 5.5 million coronavirus tests have been performed in Tennessee.
As of Dec. 29, 79,282 coronavirus vaccines were reported administered in Tennessee, including 0.63% of Shelby Countians who have received their first of two coronavirus vaccine doses. The state plans to update the dashboard on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Reporter Omer Yusuf contributed to this article.
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coronavirus Shelby County Health Department Tennessee Department of Health 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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