Coronavirus: One death reported; 136 new cases
Pharmacist Dr. Kristen Smith (in a file photo) fills syringes with vaccine during a vaccination event at Arlington High School. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
The Shelby County Health Department reported 136 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, May 8 and one new related death.
Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 96,512 cases, including 93,321 inactive cases,1,562 active cases and 1,629 deaths.
The latest hospital capacity publicly available is current as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 5.
There were 217 COVID-positive patients in area hospital beds at that time, according to the Tennessee Healthcare Resource Tracking System.
According to the HRTS, 91% of area ICU and area acute care beds were in use.
About 23% of patients in area ICU beds were COVID-positive (80) or suspected of having the coronavirus (3). About 7% of patients in area acute care beds were either COVID-positive (137) or suspected of having the coronavirus (25).
And 37 area ICU and 205 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. Monday through Friday.
As of Friday, Tennessee’s reported coronavirus total was 852,854 cases, including 829,501 recoveries and 12,255 deaths.