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Opinion | They may or may not be linked, but either way it is still a problem | Otis Sanford

Local 24 News political analyst and commentator Otis Sanford shares his point of view on the possible connection Memphis COVID-19 deaths and the number of homicides.

MEMPHIS, Tenn —

Is there a connection between the deaths in Memphis and Shelby County from COVID-19 and the city’s record number of homicides? At least one community activist says yes and he just might have a point.  

Activist Frank Gottie told The Daily Memphian that economic hardships caused by the pandemic are absolutely linked to the city’s alarming homicide rate. He also says it’s past time for policy makers to work harder to address it.  

As of this weekend, Shelby County sadly surpassed 700 deaths from the virus. It is also alarming that the county’s daily positivity rate for COVID cases is more than 13 percent. That’s far too high. A rate in the low single digit is what we need to really get a handle on cases.  

Meanwhile, homicides in Memphis are equally out of handThis weekend, the city reached 300 homicides for the first time in any year in Memphis history. That is more than 70 over the previous all-time high of 228 homicides in 2016 and we still have 24 days left in 2020.  

I don’t have imperial data proving what Frank Gottie says is true that deaths from COVID and those at the hands of another person are linked, but all of them are tragic. It does seem, however, that the best way to fight the pandemic of homicide is to effectively fight the pandemic of the virus. 

That’s my point of view. I’m Otis Sanford, for Local 24 News.

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