The public is invited to the Zoom conversation on COVID-19 at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 14.

“If you are a licensed medical provider in any domain, we need you,” said Doug McGowen, City of Memphis chief operating officer. “There are paid and unpaid positions. We also need non-medical volunteers.”

A total of 151 area ICU patients were COVID-positive, and nine were suspected of having the virus as of 5 p.m. Monday, according to Tennessee’s Healthcare Resource Tracking System. They represented nearly 41% of the total number of ICU patients. 

About 41% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive (151) or suspected of having the virus (9), as of 5 p.m. Monday, according to Tennessee’s Healthcare Resource Tracking System.

The options could include entering new charter school agreements, closing schools, or moving some of its 9,000 students to higher-performing schools.

We’re looking to gains for the Grizzlies, a possible fine for not wearing your mask, and how we can age ourselves with a store. 

Shelby County commissioners called on Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee Monday, Dec. 7, to enact a statewide mask mandate, but the vote wasn’t unanimous. It was among a series of COVID-related measures. 

Drag racing would still be a misdemeanor under the legislation proposed by two Shelby County legislators. But it would be a higher grade misdemeanor. The City Council will also see some resolutions on its agenda supporting the bill.

Christ Community Health Services, the Mid-South Food Bank, Las Americas and MICAH will be honored for outstanding service in a very unusual year. 

Monday’s delay by the Shelby County Commission follows a similar delay in approval by the Memphis City Council.

Thirty-two percent of SCS students are expected to be in the classrooms when school starts in January, compared with only 17% of SCS teachers, who will mostly be working from home. Some say schools shouldn’t open at all.

Three more businesses have been cited for a variety of COVID-safety violations.

Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings issued a brief statement Monday about the record number of homicides in the city. To date, 302 people have been killed. 

The deputy adjutant general of the Tennessee National Guard is the interim commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services.

The Canadian government has agreements with seven vaccine makers including Pfizer and Moderna.

The 311 cases come from 2,706 tests, which gives the day a positivity rate of 11.5%.

Fogelman and DRA Advisors have acquired 33 apartment communities since 2003.

Revenue lost in Memphis in May, Elvis Week cancellations compound hotel’s COVID-19 problems.

Memphis sees a record number of homicides, the pandemic is having an effect on children and young adults, and the Mid-South is grappling with a nursing shortage. 

Darren Goods, a veteran Memphis Police officer who was former head of the gang unit, has retired and taken a job with the state Department of Children Services. 

The commission also votes on funding for a public health coordinator’s position at the Shelby County Health Department as part of the ongoing discussion about the county’s pandemic response.

How fast the vaccine is available to the general public will depend on how many people in the priority categories decide to get it.

The Shelby County Health Department closed six restaurants and businesses over the weekend, including two locations of T.J. Mulligan’s. Related article: Beale St. club among latest health department closures

Shelby County Health Department reported six new deaths Sunday, Dec. 6, and 702 people in the county have died with COVID-19.