Tag: COVID-19

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Covid Testing Sites

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Facebook
Need to find a Covid test? Here’s our list of Memphis testing sites. 

UTHSC Covid Testing
1068 Cresthaven Road
Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Text COVID to (901) 203-5526 to schedule an appointment

UTHSC Covid Testing (opens January 5th)
3 North Dunlap Street
Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
No appointment required

Compass Laboratory Services
1800 Pyramid Place
Monday-Saturday; 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Register online at https://pe.compasslabservices.com/PatientEntry/Default.aspx; on-site registration available

Christ Community Health Services – Lamar Emissions Station
1720 RKS Commercial Cove
Monday-Friday; 8:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.
Text “Test2020” to 91999 for appointment or https://bit.ly/CCHSVaccines; all ages tested

Memphis Health Center
767 Walker Avenue
Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
Call (901) 261-2042 or text “COVID2020” to 474747

Poplar Healthcare
3495 Hacks Cross Road
Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Register online at poplarhealthcare.regfox.com/phc-drive-thru-testing; on-site registration available

Poplar Healthcare – Methodist University School of Nursing (Wilson Hall)
251 S Claybrook Street
(Enter from Linden Ave to access the testing offered at Methodist University.)
Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Register online at poplarhealthcare.regfox.com/phc-drive-thru-testing; on-site registration available

Shelby County Health Department – Collierville
167 Washington Street
Tuesday and Thursday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Call 901-222-9900, by appointment only

Shelby County Health Department – Millington
Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Call 901-222-9949, by appointment only

Christ Community Third Street
3362 Third Street
Monday, Tuesday, Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m
Saturday, 10 a.m.-2p.m.
Text “Test2020” to 91999 for appointment or https://bit.ly/CCHSVaccines

Tri State Community Health Center
3839 Lamar Avenue
Wednesday: 4 p.m.-7 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
No appointment needed at this time.

Harbor Town Pharmacy
103 Harbortown Square
Monday-Saturday; times vary
901-347-2774

Mobile Drug Testing
3592 Knight Arnold Road, Suite 327
Monday-Friday; 9a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Register at covidtesting901.com

CVS – Union Avenue
2115 Union Avenue
Monday-Sunday; times vary
sign up on portal www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing

CVS – Stage Road
5055 Stage Road
Monday-Sunday; times vary
sign up on portal www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing

CVS – Quince Road
6116 Quince Road
Monday-Sunday; times vary
sign up on portal www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing

CVS – Winchester Road
6620 Winchester Road
Monday-Sunday; times vary
sign up on portal www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing

CVS – Park Avenue
3502 Park Avenue
Monday-Sunday; times vary 
sign up on portal www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing

Germantown Pediatric and Family Medicine
Monday-Friday; times vary
Call 901-854-5455 for an appointment

Medical Testing – American Way
4322 American Way
Monday, Friday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
No appointment necessary; Call 901-795-5905 for information

New Life Medical Center
Monday-Friday; 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday; 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Walk-ins, drive through, or appointment by phone 901-213-0100 or online (newlifemedcenters.com). Rapid test available.

Rapid Care, LLC
1811 Kirby Pkwy, Suite 1
Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
schedule online at rapidcaretesting.com

Walgreens – Shelby Drive
6939 E Shelby Drive
Monday-Sunday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
schedule online at walgreens.com/coronavirus

Walgreens – Thomas Street
3100 Thomas Street
Monday-Sunday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
schedule online at walgreens.com/coronavirus

Walgreens – Elvis Presley Road
3445 Elvis Presley Road
Monday-Sunday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
schedule online at walgreens.com/coronavirus

Walgreens – Union Avenue
987 Union Avenue
Monday-Sunday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
schedule online at walgreens.com/coronavirus

Walgreens – Jackson Avenue
2471 Jackson Ave
Monday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
schedule online at walgreens.com/coronavirus

Walgreens – Ramill Road
3489 Ramill Road
Monday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
schedule online at walgreens.com/coronavirus

Walgreens – Austin Peay Highway
4015 Austin Peay Highway
Monday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
schedule online at walgreens.com/coronavirus

Walgreens – S. Third Street
1845 S. Third Street
Monday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
schedule online at walgreens.com/coronavirus

Test Anywhere Mobile Laboratory 
4444 Delp Street
Monday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Available upon request
Text COVIDTEST to 901-860-4973 or Register at testanywhere.org

Passport Health Memphis/NP Cares Primary Care
4515 Poplar Ave, Suite 131
Call 901-681-2700

Spirit Health Medical
1331 Union Avenue, Suite 1240

Journey 2 Health
5220 Park Avenue, Suite 100
Call 901-676-2026, no appointment needed
 
AFC Urgent Care
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Appointments at AFCUrgentCareMemphisTN.com and click on Covid-19 Testing. Or call 901-254-8040.
 
ZupMed
4576 Poplar Avenue
Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Appointments at 901-701-7010 or visit zupmed.com
 
ZupMed at Memphis International Airport
 2491 Winchester Road
 B ticketing lobby across from the Southwest Airlines and American Airlines counters
Sunday-Saturday, 5 a.m.-8 p.m.  
Appointments at 901-701-7010 or zupmed.com

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Covid Deaths Doubled in 2021

Last year was twice as deadly as 2020 for Covid-19 in Shelby County.

In 2020, 903 died of Covid here. In 2021, 1,807 passed from the virus in Shelby County, according to state data.

In total, 2,710 have died of Covid here from April 2020 to the end of December 2021.

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INFOGRAPHIC: 2021 Covid in Tennessee

Credit: Wikipedia
Source: Tennessee Department of Health
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Covid Mandate Exemptions Halted in TN

(Credit: Dreamstime)

All exemptions to Tennessee’s new laws against any Covid-19 mandates have been suspended. 

The new rules will not allow employers to mandate masks or proof of Covid vaccines for employees. However, many businesses complained about the proposals as they moved through a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly in October. So, legislators allowed exemptions for certain companies. 

So far, 69 Tennessee businesses and agencies have been granted exemptions to the laws. For Memphis this includes Barge Design Solutions, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc., Christian Brothers University, Rhodes College, Serenity Recovery Centers, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, University of Memphis, University of Tennessee, and more. 

All of the exemptions were suspended Wednesday by Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower, former Republican Majority Leader in the Tennessee House.

The move comes after a federal judge issued an injunction to stop the federal government from enforcing vaccine mandates for federal contractors in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. Another federal judge issued a similar nationwide injunction Tuesday barring Covid mandates on healthcare workers. Mumpower said his office could not find that going along with the new Tennessee rules, which include those exemptions, “would result in a loss of federal funding.”

“It is important to note that these exemptions may be reinstated if the injunctions are lifted, and it is legally permissible,” reads a statement from the comptroller’s office.

The office will continue, however, to take and process requests for exemptions from companies. Though, none will be granted “unless it is legally permissible.”

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Gov. Lee Ends Covid-19 State of Emergency

Wikimedia Commons | Lynn Freeny

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said Friday he will not renew the Covid-19 state of emergency.

Lee extended the state of emergency for the last time on November 5th. While he’s not renewing it at this time, Lee said he may reinstate it if the need arises.

“I am not renewing the Covid-19 state of emergency that expires tonight,” Lee said in a statement Friday morning. “For almost 20 months, this tool has provided deregulation and operational flexibility for hospitals and industries most affected by Covid’s challenges.

“Should our state face any future surges, we will consider temporarily reinstating this tool, but in the meantime, we are evaluating opportunities for permanent deregulation.”

Lee signed the original order on March 12th, 2020. The state of emergency allowed for different kinds of vehicles to transport medical equipment, it allowed for temporary health care facilities to be built, it stopped price-gouging on medical supplies, and allowed health care professionals greater latitude to treat those with Covid, in addition to other measures.

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Memphis Covid-19 Cases Rise From Surge Low

Credit: Shelby County Health Department

Covid-19 cases are rising again in Shelby County, a trend emerging around the country and the world.

The seven-day rolling average of new cases fell to a Delta-surge record low of 73 on October 31st. That’s about 8.5 percent of the 860 average cases reported daily at the height of summer’s record-high Delta surge in late August. 

(Credit: Shelby County Health Department)

However, the average number of new cases has slowly increased since that low figure set on Halloween. The number was 101 per day a week ago, according to data from the Shelby County Health Department. The figure was 120 on Sunday and on Monday, according to the health department. 

(Credit: Tennessee Department of Health)

Plateaus and slight increases in case counts are being seen across Tennessee. The state hit a Delta-surge low of 548 cases on November 7th. The figure more than doubled to 1,213 on November 12th. That figure fell again to 743 on November 14th, according to data from the Tennessee department of Health. Numbers are plateauing or slightly increasing in every metro across the state.  

(Credit: Tennessee Department of Health)

The increases come as new laws forbid mask or vaccine mandates from some private businesses, schools, and government agencies. Those seeking exemptions form the law can apply at a brand new website from the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office. Gov. Bill Lee signed the legislation last week from a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly. However, a Middle Tennessee judge has temporarily blocked the law on concerns that it might violate the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

(Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

The increases seen in Memphis and Tennessee mirror increases seen across the country, bottoming out in late October before starting a gentle rise. Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House chief medical advisor, noted upticks across the country but said there’s good news, and some “challenging news” may need to be addressed this winter. Though, he said vaccinated families should be comfortable gathering this holiday season. 

(Credit: Our World In Data)

The increases are happening around the world and some of them are bringing new mandates and lockdown measures in Germany, France, Austria, and more. 

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State: Covid Shots for Kids Starts Thursday

(Credit: Dreamstime)

UPDATE: Starting Thursday, the Shelby County Health Department will begin vaccinating children age 5-11 years old on a walk-in basis at its immunization clinic at 814 Jefferson Avenue. Hours of operation are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m, Monday – Friday.

Many Tennessee health departments will begin vaccinating children aged 5-11 for Covid-19 on Thursday, state health leaders announced Wednesday. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for the age group this week. The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) said the shot will be “widely available” across the state in the coming days as distribution ramps up throughout the country. 

Parents seeking the vaccine should visit vaccines.gov for availability.  

“The approval of the Covid-19 vaccine for pediatric patients further bolsters our efforts to combat the spread of Covid-19 and continue to put an end to this pandemic,” said TDH Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey. “As a pediatrician and parent, I trust the science. This is an exciting opportunity to vaccinate our younger population and protect not only our children but also our loved ones and those with whom they have contact.”

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TN Dems Urge Governor Lee to Veto Covid Bills

Bill Lee (Photo: tn.gov)

Tennessee Democrats have asked Tennessee governor Bill Lee to veto Covid-19 legislation passed in a special session last week as it “intrudes on the rights of local governments,” threatens $2.5 billion in federal funding, and undermines public health. 

Tennessee Republicans called last week’s special session that ended with key votes early Saturday morning. The “big bill” focused on Covid measures. It banned many (but not all) employers in Tennessee from requiring vaccines or masks. It guaranteed employees in the state unemployment benefits if they had been or will be fired or quit a job for not showing proof of a vaccine. The bill also stripped pandemic mandate powers from six health departments across the state, rolling much of those powers to Nashville. 

In a letter issued, Tuesday afternoon, the state Joint Minority Caucus urged Lee to ”veto the most egregious anti-public health bills passed by Republicans in the most recent extraordinary session of the Tennessee General Assembly.”

 “Governor, we should be a state that respects the role and authority of local governments and a state that promotes public health and protects the rights of those saving lives,” reads the letter. “In addition to undermining the health of our citizens, these extreme measures irresponsibly threaten the rights of voters, cities, counties, schools, and private organizations to sensibly govern themselves.” 

Lee stayed mostly quiet during the special session.  On Friday afternoon, he tweeted, “I commend members of the General Assembly for working to address the Biden Administration’s overreach into our state, our workforce, and our schools. We are evaluating each piece of legislation to ensure we push back on harmful federal policies and do right by Tennesseans.”

After that, Lee’s twitter gave no indication on how he’ll move on the measures. The feed only listed the schedules for upcoming budget hearings and had Lee beefing with the state of Florida’s Chief Financial Officer to win Kid Rock’s affection for an In-N-Out Burger location.  

Democrats said the bill “intrudes on the rights” of local governments, school districts, private businesses, and nonprofits. The move marks “a substantial shift from historical precedent in Tennessee, where we have generally respected the ideal of limited government and enacted bipartisan solutions to promote public health.”

Further, Democrats said the bills “threaten the very existence of the [Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration TOSHA].” They said that, according to the legislature’s fiscal review director, the “legislation jeopardizes $2.5 billion of federal funding from the American Rescue Plan.” 

The Democrats also asked Lee to veto other, non-Covid bills that would strip some prosecution powers from local district attorneys and make partisan local school board elections. 

See the full letter below:

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Covid: Employee Vaccine Opt-Out Bill Moves in Senate

Credit: state of Tennessee

A bill moving in Nashville would give Tennessee employees a host of Covid-related protections against employers unless those employers include Ford Motor Co., any business that has received state funds, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, private schools, jails, prisons, and more likely to come. 

Tennessee senators passed the legislation — what bill sponsor Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) called the “big bill” or “omnibus bill” — in a committee hearing Friday morning. It’s big because it does a lot. It says: 

• No employer (private, government, nor school) can take any adverse action against an employee who refuses to show proof of a Covid-19 vaccine.      

• Any employee fired for not showing proof of a vaccine can get Tennessee unemployment benefits from wages lost in the past and into the future. 

• No vaccine can be given to a child without parental consent. 

• Creates two triggers (called a “severe condition”) for mask mandates: The governor has to declare a state of emergency. Counties seeking a mandate have to have a case rate of 1,000 cases per 100,000 population. 

• Mask mandates in counties can last only 14 days. 

• School districts cannot implement a district-wide mask mandate.

• In a severe condition, individual schools may ask the school board’s permission to institute a mask mandate. If approved, they would last 14 days. 

• Only the Tennessee Commissioner of Health can stipulate details of quarantine.

• Only those testing positive for Covid can be quarantined, not those exposed with a negative test. 

• Any employer that violates the new rules would lose liability protections set out by the legislature earlier this year. 

As debate on the “big bill” began Friday, exemptions to it began to flow. Ford Motor Co., which was just given $500 million by lawmakers last week, would be exempt. Carve-outs were promised, too, for all ot the entities listed in the top of the story. 

Sen. Sarah Kyle (D-Memphis) urged caution on the sweeping legislation and pointed to a letter she and others received from a long list of Tennessee businesses, nonprofits, and chambers of commerce, including the Greater Memphis Chamber and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“We oppose any proposals that outright remove the ability of an employer to determine their own vaccination and mask policies,” reads the letter. “We believe that any legislation of this kind is unnecessary government intrusion into the operation of our businesses. Tennessee’s strong business climate is based on this fundamental principle, including the state’s employment-at-will law.”       

Kyle asked Johnson to consider removing the bill for now and to bring it to the body again when it meets in January during the regular session. Johnson said about 100 lawmakers signed a letter to create the special session to deal with these Covid issues, including those in the bill. 

Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville) said while he was voting for the bill, which he did, it was a “bitter pill to swallow.” He said he’d made commitments to many businesses in his district to not support the bill. However, he was given assurances that the legislation would be improved and his vote would allow other members to continue their work on it. 

“There’s a lot of work to be done and we’ll have to see what the final product is,” Briggs said. 

The bill was approved and moves on to the Senate Calendar Committee for a review next week.

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Average Covid Cases Fall into Double Digits

Source: Shelby County Health Department

Covid cases in Shelby County continued a prolonged fall from the record-high figures posted this summer as the Delta variant spread here.

The seven-day rolling average of new cases hit a milestone this week. That average fell below 100 for the first time in many weeks to 90 on Friday.

The lower numbers are the reason the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) lifted the mask mandate here, in place for several weeks.

Another interesting data point published Friday is the rising number of vaccinations in the county. The daily average of vaccines here rose by hundreds (to 1,853) over the week, likely pushed higher by those getting a third dose of the shot or a booster. So far, 502,463 have been vaccinated in Shelby County. That is 71.8 percent of the total county goal of 700,000.