Coronavirus: Cases slowly falling, but 14 deaths added to total
Christ Community Health Services staff members collect nasal swabs at a drive-thru coronavirus testing site on Lamar Avenue. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
After two days with no new reported deaths, the Shelby County Health Department reported 14 new coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday, Jan. 21.
The new deaths bring Shelby County’s reported death toll to 1,154. With 432 new coronavirus cases for Thursday, Shelby County’s coronavirus total is now 79,051 cases, including 72,326 inactive cases (recoveries) and 5,571 active cases.
The 432 cases come from 3,719 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 11.6%.
There were 514 COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System.
According to the HRTS, 94% of area ICU and 88% of area acute care beds were in use.
About 36% of patients in area ICU beds were COVID-positive (141) or suspected of having the coronavirus (2). About 20% of patients in area acute care beds were either COVID-positive (373) or suspected of having the coronavirus (41).
And 25 area ICU and 281 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 Wednesday, Tennessee’s reported coronavirus total is 694,291 cases, including 8,556 deaths, 2,653 current hospitalizations and 633,428 inactive cases.
About 6.1 million coronavirus tests have been performed in Tennessee.
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coronavirusElle 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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