Virus Cases Rise by 691
New virus case numbers rose by 691 over the last 24 hours. The new cases put the total of all positive cases in Shelby County since March at 74,508.
Total current active cases of the virus — the number of people known to have COVID-19 in the county — rose to 7,798. The figure had been as low as 1,299 in September and rose above 2,000 only in October. The new active case count represents 10.5 percent of all cases of the virus reported here since March.
The Shelby County Health Department reported 873,117 have been given here since March. This figure includes multiple tests given to some people.
As of Thursday (the latest data available), acute care beds were 93 percent full in area hospitals with 175 beds available. Of the 2,218 patients in acute care beds now, 460 of them were COVID-19-positive. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds were 95 percent full with 22 beds available. Of the 387 patients in ICU beds now, 154 were COVID-19-positive.
The latest weekly positivity rate skyrocketed to another record high. The average positive of test results for the week of December 27th was 17.5 percent, rising nearly three percentage points over the then-record 14.3 percent weekly average recorded for December 20th.
Twelve new deaths were reported over the last 24 hours. However, those deaths likely span from many days; they likely did not occur within the last 24 hours. The total death toll now stands at 1,036.
The average age of those who have died in Shelby County is 74, according to the health department. The age of the youngest COVID-19 death was 13. The oldest person to die from the virus was 101.
COVID-19 Testing Availability
Shelby County has “plenty of testing capacity available,” according to the health department, and “anyone who thinks they need a test should get one.”
Two of the community drive-through testing sites are now available to anyone, and no appointment is needed during their regular testing hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday.
Those sites are:
• 2355 Appling City Cove
• 1720 RKS Commercial Cove (off Lamar Avenue)
