Coronavirus: Number of hospitalized patients decreases to November level
Christ Community Health Services staff members collect nasal swabs at a drive-thru coronavirus testing site on Lamar Avenue in December. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
The number of area COVID-positive patients as of 5 p.m. Monday was at a level not seen since mid-November.
There were 391 COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds, according to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System.
According to the HRTS, 91% of area ICU and 88% of area acute care beds were in use.
About 32% of patients in area ICU beds were COVID-positive (113) or suspected of having the coronavirus (5). About 15% of patients in area acute care beds were either COVID-positive (278) or suspected of having the coronavirus (25).
And 39 area ICU and 284 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.
There were only 221 newly reported coronavirus cases on Tuesday, but those cases came from just 2,257 tests.
That gives the day a positivity rate of about 10.2%.
The Shelby County Health Department also reported eight new coronavirus-related deaths.
Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 80,991 cases, including 74,905 inactive cases (recoveries), 4,884 active cases and 1,202 deaths.
The Tennessee Department of Health releases statewide coronavirus figures at 2 p.m. daily.
As of Monday, Tennessee’s reported coronavirus total is 710,427 cases, including 8,977 deaths, 2,068 current hospitalizations and 657,031 inactive cases (recoveries).
About 6.2 million coronavirus tests have been performed in Tennessee.
Topics
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.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.