COVID transmission rate soars to highest since April 2020
Dr. Bruce Randolph listens to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris speak at a July 15, 2021, briefing addressing the surge of Delta variant cases locally. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)
The positivity rate has tripled since July 1, to 8.9%. The majority of cases are the Delta variant, which is 50% to 60% more contagious than the B.1.1.7 strain that was dominant here from mid-March 2021 to early July.
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Dr. Bruce Randolph transmission delta variant Shelby County Mayor Lee Harri Dr. Stephen ThrelkeldJane Roberts
Jane Roberts has reported in Memphis for more than 20 years. As a senior member of The Daily Memphian staff, she was assigned to the medical beat during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has done in-depth work on other medical issues facing our community, including shortages of specialists in local hospitals. She covered K-12 education here for years and later the region’s transportation sector, including Memphis International Airport and FedEx Corp.
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