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
A look at COVID-19 numbers in Memphis and Shelby County for September 24th
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Shelby County announces new Spanish language briefings and new COVID-19 hotline number 901-222-MASK
4:20 p.m. - (NEWS RELEASE) - The Shelby County Health Department rolls out two communication innovations this week: a new media partnership with Hispanic media outlet La Prensa Latina, and a new, easy-to-remember COVID-19 hotline number.
Starting today, La Prensa Latina will provide English-to-Spanish translations of the Shelby County Health Department/Joint Task Force news briefings, held each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, in order to better share news and information about COVID-19 with the Spanish-speaking community.
For more than 24 years, La Prensa Latina has been the Mid-South’s largest bilingual media outlet, providing news, information and local content for the Memphis metropolitan area and surrounding region through their weekly print and digital publications, social media outlets and their website: www.laprensalatina.com.
The Spanish-language versions of the press briefings will be available on Wednesdays and Fridays on Shelby County Health Department’s YouTube channel.
The Shelby County Health Department also has a new phone number to make it easier for the community to call the Shelby County Health Department Hotline: 901-222-MASK (6275). The toll-free number, 833-943-1658, will still work and all calls will be routed to the call center during operating hours and after hours.
For more information about COVID-19 in Shelby County, please visit our COVID-19 webpage at www.shelbytnhealth.com/coronavirus or call the Health Department’s COVID-19 hotline at 901-222-MASK (6275) or toll-free at 833-943-1658.
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835 new cases & 35 new deaths in TN; more than 171,000 recoveries
2:00 p.m. - The Tennessee Department of Health reports 835 new COVID-19 cases and 35 new deaths, for a total of 187,544 cases and 2,310 deaths in the state.
There are currently 708 hospitalizations, 171,153 recoveries, and 2,722,637 have been tested in the state.
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Nearly 78,000 COVID-19 cases & 1,229 deaths in Arkansas
2:00 p.m. - Here's a look at the latest data from Arkansas as of 2:00 p.m. Thursday. The health department reports a total of 77,963 cases in the state and 1,229 deaths.
Key facts to know:
- 75,646 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas
- 2,317 probable cases
- 6,777 active cases
- 394 active probable cases
- 1,080 reported deaths
- 149 probable deaths
- 468 hospitalizations
- 90 on ventilators
- 69,952 recoveries
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WATCH: Memphis & Shelby County COVID-19 Task Force briefing
12:00 p.m. - Watch HERE.
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Shelby County "Mask Up Our Kids" offers free masks to children Saturday
(NEWS RELEASE) - The Shelby County Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency would like you to help us “Mask Up Our Kids”. Children are our most precious cargo. We realize this pandemic has caused hardships for a lot of citizens throughout Shelby County. Therefore, our agency would like to help you by providing masks for the children of Shelby County.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all people two years of age, and older wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
With September being designated as National Preparedness Month, the Shelby County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency has partnered with the Shelby County Health Department, Shelby County Fire Department, Memphis Fire Department, the cities of Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington to give away children’s masks. These masks will fit the faces of our little ones.
So come out on Saturday, September 26, 2020, and mask up our kids. You can drive through the following locations:
- Shelby County Government, East Complex: 1075 Mullins Station Road, Memphis, TN 38134 from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Shelby County Health Department: Hickory Hill Public Health Clinic, from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM: 6590 Kirby Center Cove, Memphis, TN 38115
- Town of Arlington: Town Hall: 5854 Airline Road from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM
- City of Millington: Millington City Hall: 7930 Nelson from 11:00AM-3:00 PM
- City of Germantown: Germantown City Hall: 1930 S Germantown Road from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM
- City of Collierville: Collierville Police Department: 156 N. Rowlett Street from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM
- City of Bartlett: Bartlett City Hall: 6400 Stage Road from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM
- Shelby County Fire Departments from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM:
- Station 60: 5380 Egypt Central, Memphis, TN
- Station 61: 11611 Macon Road, Eads, TN 38028
- Station 62: 4647 Forest Hill Irene, Memphis, TN 38125
- Station 64: 6457 Navy Road, Millington, TN 38053
- Station 65: 7740 Trinity Bldg. B, Ste. 117, Memphis, TN 38018
- Station 66: 5469 Raleigh-Millington Road, Millington, TN 38053
- Station 67: 944 Northaven, Memphis, TN 38127
- Station 68: 2348 Garnett Road, Millington, TN 38053
- Station 69: 7365 Brunswick Road, Arlington, TN 38002 Lakeland
- Station 1: 9774 Beverle Rivera, Lakeland, TN 38002
- Memphis Fire Departments from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM:
- Station 38: 4715 Horn Lake, Memphis, TN 38109
- Station 30: 1150 Getwell, Memphis, TN 38111
- Station 35: 3305 S. Mendenhall, Memphis, TN 38115
- Station 49: 4351 New Allen, Memphis, TN 38128
- Station 24: 4472 Powell, Memphis, TN 38122
- City of Lakeland: Lakeland City Hall: 10001 US Highway 70 from 11:00AM-3:00PM
- International Harvester Park: 4523 Canada Road from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Come out and Mask Up Our Kids!
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737 new cases & 4 new deaths in Mississippi; 44 new cases in Desoto County
10:30 a.m. - The Mississippi State Department of Health reports 737 new COVID-19 cases and 4 new deaths, for a total of 95,310 cases and 2,874 deaths in the state.
Desoto County has 44 new cases and no new deaths, for a total of 5,521 cases and 59 deaths in the county.
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147 new cases & no new deaths in Shelby County; nearly 28,800 recoveries
10:00 a.m. - The Shelby County Health Department reports 147 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths, for a total of 30,837 cases and 449 deaths in the county.
There have been 28,720 recoveries in the county.
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Mid-South Food Bank mobile pantry location for Thursday
6:45 a.m.:
- Memphis, Paradise Entertainment Center, 645 E. Georgia Ave. 38126, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. NO FOOD Diapers and Period Supplies ONLY
- Memphis, New Hope Christian Church, 3300 Kirby Whitten Rd. Bartlett 38134, 9 a.m.
- Memphis, Colonial Park United Methodist, 5330 Park Ave. 38119, 10 a.m.
- Memphis, Shady Grove Missionary Baptist, 1821 Kansas St. 38109, 9 a.m. No more than 2 households per car and must provide proof of residence
- Obion Cty, TN- Second Baptist, 831 Everett Union City, 38261, Noon
- Tipton Cty, TN- 632 St. Luke Covington 38019, 9 a.m.
- Tunica Cty, MS- 3873 US 61 Tunica 38676, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
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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.