Staffer snaps, edits the thrill on her iPhone to snappy “My Shot” from Hamilton. 

The Shelby County Health Department reported 625 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, Dec. 18. 

As the first COVID-19 vaccinations began in Memphis hospitals Thursday, Gov. Bill Lee offered a message of hope that the pandemic’s end is close but also acknowledged the challenges of Tennessee being in the midst of its worst surge yet.

Coming restrictions have to include ways to limit transmission over the coming holidays, health officials say.

The Health Department reported 1,163 new COVID-19 cases and four more coronavirus-related deaths in its daily update Thursday morning.

The ordinance cleared second reading Wednesday at a special commission meeting with seven votes. However, nine votes will be needed to approve the ordinance at Monday’s final vote of the commission.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 779 new COVID-19 cases and four more coronavirus-related deaths in its daily update Wednesday, Dec. 16.

Health Department expects it could be vaccinating EMS workers and nursing home residents and staff by Dec. 28.

Tuesday’s case numbers yielded a 10.6% positivity rate. 

Dr. Robert Redfield was part of a hour-long Zoom yesterday with Dr. Scott Strome, executive dean of the UTHSC College of Medicine. 

Last week’s budget retreat by the Shelby County Commission included word of a $27.5 million deficit and calls for the county to come up with a way to replenish its reserves and avoid short-term borrowing.

Part of the variable is the strain COVID-19 has placed on the funeral industry.

Haushalter: “As a health care provider and particularly as a nurse, I really value people having information to make an informed decision. So, our role collectively is to get information that’s accurate and timely to the public so that people can make informed decisions for themselves and their families.”

The next Shelby County Health Directive, expected soon, will include recommendations that hospitals test employees regularly.

The County Commission Scorecard tracks some specific pandemic votes as well as a call for Medicaid expansion.

A $300,000 grant from International Paper to the Mid-South Food Bank is the first installment in a three-year, $900,000 pledge.

“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.”

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. 

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.

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.

Staffing shortages account for bottlenecks in emergency rooms, and the inability to staff hundreds of vacant hospital rooms.

The Health Department ordered In Love Memphis to close for two weeks, said Alisa Haushalter, Shelby County Health Department Director. That’s the minimum amount of time the agency can require a facility to close.

COVID-19 immunizations will rollout this month under a revised state plan that defines the priority orders for Tennessee residents. 

Commissioners questioned the Health Department’s response to the tent party in Hickory Hill Saturday that drew hundreds of people. Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter indicated there will probably be some changes but that there are limits on what her department can do. Later in the day there were some changes in that.