Last updated at 3:35 p.m.on Thursday, May 28,2020
By the numbers: Shelby County's count of reported novel coronavirus cases rose to 4,703 Thursday, up from 4,581 on Wednesday, according to the Shelby County Health Department. There have been 105 deaths in Shelby County from COVID-19 complications, up from 102 reported Thursday.
Statewide, there were 21,306reported COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, up from 20,965reported cases Tuesday, per the state health department. Of the 21,306cases, 13,916haverecovered. The health department reported 353 deathsstatewide.
Gov. Bill Lee gives weekly update
CVS opening three self-swab testing locations in Shelby County
CVS Health said Thursday it would launch 18 drive-thru, self-swabCOVID-19 testing locations across the state. The self-swab kits will be available starting Friday and three CVS locations carrying them will be in Shelby County.
The tests will be provided at the pharmacy drive-thru window and a CVS employee will watch through the window to ensure the self-swab is done correctly. The self-administered swabs are less invasive than other tests and are allowed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The swabs will be sent to a third-party lab for processing and test results will be received in about three days, a CVS spokesperson said. Appointments are required and can be made online.
The CVS locations offering drive-thru, self-swab testing in Shelby County are:
- 6670 Stage Rd. in Bartlett
- 2115 Union Ave. in Memphis
- 6116 Quince Rd. in Memphis
Statewide cases reach 21,679
The state health department on Thursday reported 21,679 COVID-19 cases, an increase of 373 cases since Wednesday.
Statewide, 356 have died, the department said, an increase of three from Wednesday.
AT least 1,689 people have been hospitalized across the state but as of Thursday, 14,632 people have recovered.In total,415,989 people have been tested for the coronavirus statewide.
People who attended Wednesday protest should monitorfor symptoms
People who attended a demonstration in Midtown Wednesday night protesting the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Tayor and Ahmaud Arbery should monitor themselves closely for COVID-19 symptoms, said Dr. Steve Threlkeld, co-chair of the infection control program at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis.
Threlkeld did not recommend that all attendees get tested for COVID-19 but said that anyone who develops even slight symptoms within two weeks of the protest should get tested. He advised those who were at the protest to carefully monitor themselves for slight symptoms, including low-grade fevers, sore throat, coughing, chills, body aches, fatigue and runny nose.
"Any sort of gathering of any type does put people at increased risk of being infected," he said.“There’s no question that if any of those people get symptoms within two to 14 days after exposure...I would definitely get tested.”
Threlkeld said it was difficult to know how many people with the virus do not exhibit symptoms as reports have ranged widely.
"We need to be careful of people who around us and might be asymptomatic," he said. "Atthe very least after, any type of gathering such as that one, you want to be careful of symptoms."
YMCA expands free childcare for essential workers
Beginning Monday, the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-Southwill offer free child care to essential workers at eight Memphis community centers. Care will expand to 23 centers on June 8.
The YMCA is working with the state toprovide care to 700 children of essential workers at 18 of its locations.
"With the uncertainty of day camps this summer we recognize that essential workers need stable child care in a safe and supportive environment," said Jerry Martin, president and CEO of YMCA of Memphis and Mid-South.
Registration begins June 1 atymcamemphis.org.
The YMCA will also continue to provide student meals at community centers throughout the summer.
Watch COVID-19 task force briefing
Majority of COVID-19 deaths had pre-existing cardiac problems
Dr. Bruce Randolph, health officer for the Shelby County Health Department, said on Thursday that 80% of the 105 reported COVID-19-related deaths in the county had pre-existing cardiac issues.
Dr. Dwight Dishmon, a cardiologist with Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare, said that while COVID-19 predominantly impacts the respiratory system, data is emerging that other organ systems may be involved, including the cardiovascular system.
Dishmon echoed other physicians and public health experts saying that people with chronic health conditions, including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atrial fibrillation and HIV, could be more vulnerable to the virus.
He said that those with cardiac conditions could be especially vulnerable.If the lungs cannot adequately oxygenate the blood, it will put increased strain on the heart, endangering people with already fragile cardiovascular systems.
"This is a very profound inflammatory process and that creates a greater demand on the body for oxygen to be supplied. When that demand goes up, the heart compensates to try to make up for the demand," Dishmon said.
He also added that hospitals had seen fewer people presenting with heart attacks in recent months, which has prompted concerns that people experiencing severe cardiac events are staying home rather than going to the emergency room.
“I would stay safe safe, be diligent, be vigilant and help us take care of you,” he said.
Shelby County courthouses reopening plan announced
The Shelby County Sheriff's Department on Thursday announced plans to reopen county courthouses as early as next week, pending approval by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Everyone who enters the courthouses will be required to wear a facemask and anyone who is unable to procure a mask or who refuses to wear one will have to contact the applicable court clerk's office to say they were unable to attend their court date. Anyone who is sick or has symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked not to enter the courthouse and will have to contact the applicable court clerk's office to say they were unable to attend.
Only people who are directly impacted by proceedings will be allowed to the courthouses — including litigants, victims and witnesses. Children not involved in the litigation will not be permitted in the courthouse, the sheriff's department said.
May 27 updates
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- Experts convene Wednesday evening for coronavirus-related panels hosted by Rhodes College
- Cooper-Young Festival pushed to Halloween
- Shelby County passes grim milestone, reports 102 COVID-19 fatalities
- Free bilingual testing event on Summer Avenue
May 26 updates
- Facing pandemic-related financial hardship, IC will close its high school
- UT system will end face-to-face classes by fall, due to COVID-19
- Cluster outbreaks in long-term care facilities “not under control”
- COVID-19 case count in Shelby County rises by 127
Click here to read all updates.
May 23-25 updates
- 126 new cases, 1 death reported Sunday in Shelby County
- Of 5 tested, 1 Shelby County Corrections inmate has testedpositive for COVID-19
- 100 new cases, 1 new death reported Saturday
Click here to read the Memorial Day weekend updates.
May 22 updates
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- Here's where you can get a COVID-19 test on Memorial Day
- SCSO reports 156 ofinmates have recovered from COVID-19, increased testing planned
- Pediatric cases in Shelby County jump to 7.5% of total, minorities disparately affected
- Of total reported case in Shelby County, nearly 70% are recovered
- Updated CDC guidance eases fears of contracting the coronavirus fromsurfaces
May 21 updates
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- General Sessions Civil Courts to resume in-person cases June 15
- County health official pleads for safe behavior over Labor Day weekend
- New cases fewer than 30 in Shelby County
- Week-over-week unemployment claims decline, slightly
May 20 updates
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- Food and supply drive for Mid-South Food Bank on Thursday
- 128 moreCOVID-19 cases reported in Shelby County
- Memphis Zoo increases visitor capacity
May 19 updates
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- 116 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Shelby County
- MLGW, TVA partner to donate $400K to nonprofits
- Thousands will have to retake virtual AP exam due to technology glitches
- Application portal for health department jobs opensup
May 18 updates
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- ICU usages were up for a few days, but are now trending back down
- Case count in Tennessee rises by 623
- Bill Lee talks about the COVID-19 Tennessee Alternate Care site
- County health department announces start of Phase 2
- Shelby County reported case count rises by 42
- ICU admissions eased over weekend
May 16-17 updates
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- County health department reports 3,719 COVID-19 cases
- Horseshoe casino in Tunica to reopen
- Kroger ends hazard pay, local grocer pays bonus
- House passes $3 trillion stimulus bill
May 15 updates
- Shelby Co. Sheriff: 151 detainees, 66 employees positive
- Germantown cancels fireworks event
- Assisted living facility clusters remain under investigation
May 14 updates
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- Officials still worried about lack of facemasks
- No decision yet about when phase two will begin
- Germantown Fire Department to distribute masks to residents
- Reported COVID-19 case count rises by 61
- New unemployment claims continue decline
May 13 updates
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- State health department reports 16,370 cases of COVID-19
- Vanderbilt reduces coronavirus peak hospitalization projection from thousands to 300
- Memphis' Malco Drive-In reopens Friday
- New case count up by 41, plus four new fatalities
May 12 updates
- State health department reports over 16,000 COVID-19 cases in Tennessee
- Reported COVID-19 case rises to 3,421
- U of M creates low-tech way to help COVID-19 patients on ventilators communicate
- Tennis is back in Memphis. A look at the first day and new guidelines
May 11updates
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- Social distancingcomplaints lead to drag racingarrests
- 85 new cases of COVID-19 in Shelby County
May 9-10 updates
- 14,985confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Tennessee
- 3,230 COVID-19 cases reported in Shelby County
- COVID-19 cases climb at Bartlett juvenile residential facility, 45 of 48 tested positive
- U of M awards 2,500 degrees in virtual ceremony
- Wolfchase Galleria reopens Saturday
May 8 updates
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- National Guard to markNurses Week with statewide flyover
- Epidemiologist ‘heartened’ by reduced COVID-19 reproductiverate
- Black Shelby County residents disproportionally impacted by COVID-19
- Memphis Zoo announces reopening
May 7 updates
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- $1.4M grant for local health centers
- Beale Street starts to reopen
- COVID cases continue to rise among Latino population
- Free face masks available starting today
May 6 updates
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- Officials say they are 'pleased' with reopening of Memphis, Shelby County so far
- Christ Community to offer free, public COVID-19 testing Wednesday
- County health department reports 2948 COVID-19 cases
- Oak Court Mall reopening Monday
- MLGW: 16 employees with COVID-19
May 5 updates
Click here to read all of the Tuesday updates
- Front-line workers can get free testing, even without symptoms
- County expands asymptomatic testing
- FedEx hiring down amid COVID-19 despite rise in e-commerce shipments, data shows
- Cohen announces grant for COVID-19 law enforcement expenses
- Siemens, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Mid-South Makers collaborate on creating face shields
- UofM, MCR Safety, Precision Plastics make face shields for medical workers, first responders
- 2,922 COVID-19 cases, 57 deathsreported in Shelby County
- Memphis-area interstate blood bank collecting plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19
- COVID-19 antibody tests are available, but how reliable and important are they?
- Some Memphis restaurants have opened their dining rooms
- Shelby County to allow hair salons, barber shops, keeps nail salons and massage businesses closed
