MEMPHIS, Tenn. — COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus and cases are spreading around the Mid-South since the virus arrived in the United States in February.
At Local 24, our coverage of the coronavirus is rooted in Facts, not Fear. Visit our coronavirus section for comprehensive coverage, find out what you need to know about COVID-19, learn more about the symptoms, and keep tabs on the cases around the world here.
We will continue to track the most important coronavirus elements relating to Memphis and the Mid-South on this page. Refresh often for new information
LIVE UPDATES
WATCH: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee gives update on COVID-19 in the state
3:00 p.m. - Watch HERE.
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WATCH: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves gives update on COVID-19 in the state
2:30 p.m. - Watch HERE.
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373 new cases & 3 new deaths in TN (21,679 cases/356 deaths total); more than 14,600 recoveries
2:00 p.m. - The Tennessee Department of Health reports 373 new COVID-19 cases and three new deaths, for a total of 21,679 cases and 356 deaths.
There are 1,689 hospitalizations, and 14,632 have recovered. 415,989 have been tested in the state.
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WATCH: Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson gives update on COVID-19 in the state
1:30 p.m. - Watch HERE.
(KTHV) - As of Thursday, May 28, Arkansas officials reported 261 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 6,538 positive cases in the state. This is the largest increase in community cases in a 24 hour period in the state.
Gov. Hutchinson announced Dr. Nate Smith, Arkansas’ Secretary of Health, has taken a new position with the CDC in Atlanta.
The Arkansas Department of Health will host a series of drive-thru COVID-19 testing events at locations across the state, beginning Friday, May 29.
There will be no out-of-pocket cost for the tests, and tests will be offered to anyone who wants to be tested, regardless of whether they have symptoms. Insurance is not required.
The schedule:
- Friday, May 29, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Dardanelle – Yell County Health Unit, 719 N. 5th St.
- Saturday, May 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- West Memphis – Lehr Arena, 501 W. Broadway
- Pine Bluff – UAPB, Simmons Bank Field, 1200 N. University Dr.
- DeQueen – Fire Department, 220 North 2nd St.
- Saturday, June 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Jonesboro – Craighead County Health Unit, 611 E. Washington Ave.
- Wrightsville – City Hall, 13024 Arkansas 365-South
- El Dorado – Union County Fairgrounds, 1430 E. 19th St.
Tests are also available at Local Health Units across the state. Patients are encouraged to schedule an appointment in advance at those facilities. Details on units that are open and offering tests can be found by clicking here.
Key facts to know:
- 6,538 known positive cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas
- 1,830 active cases
- 125 reported deaths
- 108 hospitalizations
- 4,583 recoveries
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Bare Needs Diaper Bank to distribue diapers and pads to families in need Friday
1:05 p.m. - The Bare Needs Diaper Bank will be holding a diaper and pad distribution for families in need Friday, May 29th, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
It will be held at the North Frayser Community Center at 2555 St. Elmo Ave.
Shelby County residents need to bring ID.
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WATCH: Memphis & Shelby County COVID-19 Task Force briefing
12:00 p.m. - COVID-19 Joint Task Force update with Dr. Alisa Haushalter, Director, Shelby County Health Department, Mayor Jim Strickland, and Jerry Martin, CEO, YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South.
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328 new cases & 23 new deaths in MS (14,372 cases/693 deaths total); 10 new cases in Desoto County
11:00 a.m. - The Mississippi State Department of Health reports 328 new cases of COVID-19 in the state, with 23 new deaths. The total of coronavirus cases since March 11 is now 14,372, with 693 deaths.
Desoto County reports 10 new cases, no new deaths, and four new outbreaks at long-term care facilities
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Desoto County free masks distribution Saturday at 12 locations
(NEWS RELEASE) - The Desoto County Board of Supervisors is pleased to announce it secured 75,800 face masks to distribute to citizens for free.
It is part of the Mississippi Community Mask Program in partnership with the Mississippi State Department of Health and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. The county is providing a portion of the masks to the cities in DeSoto County for distribution.
The masks will be distributed Saturday, May 30, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at 12 drive-thru locations across the county.
These masks are for personal use and intended to be worn while in public to help limit the spread of COVID-19. The state-run mask program requires distribution only to residents of Mississippi. Vehicles in the drive-thru mask line must have Mississippi tags and/or a person in the vehicle must show a Mississippi photo ID. Residents may receive up to two masks per person, but supplies are limited so come early.
“As the state prepares to reopen all businesses, it’s important that people who need or want to wear a mask, are able to get one,” said District 4 Supervisor Lee Caldwell. “We are happy to be able to provide free masks to anyone in the county who wants one.”
Volunteer Fire Department members will hand out masks in unincorporated DeSoto County. Hernando, Horn Lake, Southaven, and Olive Branch are responsible for handing out the masks each municipality received. All communities agreed to hold the mask giveaway at the same time.
“We are thankful to our county firefighters and others who are volunteering to hand out face masks this Saturday,” said District 2 Supervisor Mark Gardner. “When there is a need, you can count on DeSoto County to pull together and help others.”
DeSoto County Drive-thru Mask Distribution Locations:
ACI Volunteer Fire Department
- 10145 Holly Springs Rd
- Hernando, MS 38632
Bridgetown Volunteer Fire Department
- 3980 Malone Rd
- Nesbit MS 38651
Eudora Volunteer Fire Department
- 9341 Hwy 304
- Hernando, MS 38632
Fairhaven Volunteer Fire Department
- 13701 Center Hill Rd
- Olive Branch, MS 38654
Lewisburg High School (Lewisburg VFD)
- 1755 Craft Rd
- Olive Branch, MS 38654
Love Volunteer Fire Department
- 7345 Hwy 51 S
- Hernando, MS 38632
Nesbit Volunteer Fire Department
- 3233 Nesbit Rd
- Nesbit, MS 38651
Walls Volunteer Fire Department
- 6085 Hwy 161
- Walls, MS 38680
City Drive-thru Mask Distribution Locations:
Horn Lake Intermediate School
- 6585 Horn Lake Rd
- Horn Lake, MS 38637
Hernando Fire Station #2
- 957 Hwy 51N
- Hernando, MS 38632
DeSoto Central High School
- 2911 Central Pkwy
- Southaven, MS 38672
Olive Branch High School
- 9366 E Sandidge Rd
- Olive Branch, MS 38654
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122 new cases & 3 new deaths in Shelby County (4,703 cases/105 deaths total); more than 3,200 recoveries
10:00 a.m. - The Shelby County Health Department reports 122 new COVID-19 cases and 3 new deaths, for a total of 4,703 cases and 105 deaths in the county.
3,271 have recovered. 69,208 have been tested in the county.
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Mid-South Food Bank mobile pantry locations for Thursday, May 28
- DeSoto Cty, MS- Christ the King Catholic Church, 785 Church Rd. 38671 in Southaven, 2:30 p.m. Pre-register 662-342-3180. DeSoto County residents only. Bring driver's license. Only 2 families per vehicle. First 500 families served
- Haywood Cty, TN- 1st Baptist Brownsville, 311 E. Jefferson in Brownsville, 38017, 10 a.m.
- Shelby Cty, Bert Ferguson Comm. Ctr, 8505 Trinity Rd. in Cordova 38018, 10 a.m.
- Coahoma Cty, MS- 414 Second St. in Jonestown 38639, 10 a.m.
- Memphis, New Direction Church, 6120 Winchester 38115, 11 a.m.
- Memphis, Kingdom Fellowship Baptist Church, 3735 N. Trezevant 38127, 11 a.m.
- Memphis, Divine Life, 5270 Riverdale 38141, 10 a.m.
- Tipton Cty, TN- St. Luke Church, 632 Luke Rd., Covington 38019, 9 a.m.
- Memphis, Kingdom Fellowship Baptist Church 3735 N. Trezevant 38127, 11 a.m.
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CVS Health opens new drive-thru test sites in Tennessee as part of nationwide COVID-19 response
On Friday, May 29 CVS Health will open 18 new COVID-19 test sites at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations across Tennessee.
These new sites will utilize self-swab tests and deliver on the company’s commitment to establish 1,000 locations across the country by the end of May as originally announced on April 27. These new test sites help enable a goal of processing up to 1.5 million tests per month, subject to availability of supplies and lab capacity.
Self-swab tests will be available to individuals meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, in addition to state and age guidelines. Patients must register beginning Friday, May 29 to schedule an appointment. Patients will be required to stay in their cars and will be directed to the pharmacy drive-thru window, where they will be provided with a test kit and given instructions, and a CVS Pharmacy team member will observe the self-swab process to ensure it is done properly. Tests will be sent to an independent, third-party lab for processing and the results will be available in approximately three days.
Testing will not take place inside any retail locations, and CVS Pharmacy, HealthHUB and MinuteClinic will continue to serve customers and patients.
The new testing sites in Tennessee include:
- CVS Pharmacy, 6670 Stage Road, Bartlett, TN 38134
- CVS Pharmacy, 330 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027
- CVS Pharmacy, 2424 North Ocoee St., Cleveland, TN 37311
- CVS Pharmacy, 1154 Liberty Pike, Franklin, TN 37067
- CVS Pharmacy, 101 Glen Oak Blvd., Hendersonville, TN 37075
- CVS Pharmacy, 4402 Lebanon Road, Hermitage, TN 37076
- CVS Pharmacy, 5120 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343
- CVS Pharmacy, 9137 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923
- CVS Pharmacy, 6005 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
- CVS Pharmacy, 9435 South Northshore Dr., Knoxville, TN 37922
- CVS Pharmacy, 1200 Gallatin Pike South, Madison, TN 37115
- CVS Pharmacy, 103 Foothills Mall Road, Maryville, TN 37801
- CVS Pharmacy, 2115 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38104
- CVS Pharmacy, 6116 Quince Road, Memphis, TN 38119
- CVS Pharmacy, 4058 Franklin Road, Murfreesboro, TN 37128
- CVS Pharmacy, 735 Harding Place, Nashville, TN 37211
- CVS Pharmacy, 2788 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37010
- CVS Pharmacy, 14299 Old Nashville Highway, Smyrna, TN 37167
A complete list of CVS Pharmacy drive-thru test sites can be found here.
RELATED: Doctors concerned that loosened restrictions and travel could lead to spike in COVID-19 cases
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Coronavirus in Context:
The symptoms of coronavirus are similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80-percent of the cases there were mild.
But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.
The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.
Lower your risk
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.