COVID-19 daily update from SCHD – April 16, 2020

Shelby County currently has 1508 confirmed COVID-19 cases. The total number of deaths in Shelby County attributed to COVID-19 is 32.

The Shelby County Health Department is investigating clusters of infection in a number of facilities that serve vulnerable populations.  A chart of those facilities and numbers are provided below.

Map of COVID-19 cases in Shelby County as of 04/15/2020

Each Thursday, the Shelby County Health Department will provide a detailed analysis of reported COVID-19 deaths by age, race, comorbidities, and exposure.

Here is a breakdown of positive cases in Shelby County by age range:

Shelby County COVID-29 Cases by Race and Ethnicity as of 4/15/20

Shelby County Health Department has added a data page to its COVID-19 webpage: www.shelbytnhealth.com/coronavirus.  It includes information about the geographic distribution of COVID-19 cases in Shelby County.

All of Shelby County, including the municipalities and the unincorporated areas are under Safer at Home orders. Only essential businesses as spelled out in Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’s executive order of March 24, 2020, may remain open to the public. All assemblies and gatherings of more than 10 people outside of a private residence are prohibited. The list of essential and non-essential businesses can be viewed here:

https://www.shelbycountytn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/36528/Executive-Order—March-24-2020

For more information about the Safer at Home order or to register concerns, the public may contact:

• The Shelby County Mayor’s Action Line: 901-222-2300
• The Shelby County Health Department’s COVID-19 Hotline: 833-943-1658
• Email shelbytnhealth@shelbycountytn.gov.

There are indications that person-to-person spread in the workplace and the community is taking place. The Health Department recommends strict adherence to social-distancing recommendations:

 Individuals and Families:

• Stay at home. It is safer to stay at home. Leave home for essential activities only, such as going to work if you are considered essential personnel, the grocery store or pharmacy.
• While Shelby County School students and many others are out of school, keep children home and plan home-based activities.
•  Avoid handshakes and close contact with others whenever possible.
• Seniors and those with certain chronic health conditions are at risk for serious illness from COVID-19 infection, and must take special care to avoid exposure to the virus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications/older-adults.html.

• On April 3, CDC recommended the use of cloth face coverings in community settings to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. There is a growing body of evidence that people who are infected can spread the virus before they develop symptoms or in the absence of symptoms. Wearing a cloth face covering may help prevent the spread of the virus by people are infected and do not know it.  CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
• CDC recommends using a simple cloth face covering that covers the nose and mouth.  Cloth face coverings can be made at home from common materials like scarves or bandanas.

• People wearing cloth face coverings should continue to take other actions that help to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including remaining 6 feet apart from other individuals, washing hands frequently, and staying home when sick and when asked to do so by local or state officials and public health authorities.
• Cancel or postpone gatherings of 10 or more people. Instead of visiting friends or relatives, call or video chat.

• Children and adults may exercise outdoors, while maintaining at least six feet of distance from others.
• Do not go to work or go out in public if you are sick, especially with fever, muscle aches/pains, cough or other respiratory symptoms.

• Postpone or reschedule elective health care visits/procedures

• Avoid all non-essential travel. Re-evaluate travel plans. It is strongly recommended to avoid any unnecessary travel.  If traveling overseas, check the CDC’s travel advisory website, which is updated daily: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.  If traveling within the U.S., avoid destinations where COVID-19 has been reported:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-in-the-us.html
• Avoid non-essential flights. Traveling by private vehicle limits exposure to other people.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Scrub dirt under fingernails with a brush and soap.
• Practice respiratory etiquette by using a tissue if coughing or sneezing, then throwing the tissue away and washing your hands.
• Sanitize surfaces that are frequently touched by many people with anti-bacterial wipes or diluted bleach solution, or other FDA-approved cleaning products: https://www.americanchemistry.com/Novel-Coronavirus-Fighting-Products-List.pdf.

• Take care to protect yourself and your loved ones if you are recovering from COVID-19 at home, or caring for a person with the virus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/index.html.

 Community/Business Leaders:

• Individuals who are exhibiting signs and symptoms of illness, including fever, muscle aches/pains, or cough should not be in public, the workplace, or other settings.

• Cancel or postpone meetings and conferences of 10 or more people, including worship services.

• Consider conducting conferences or meetings by phone or video chat rather than face-to-face.
• Adhere to CDC travel guidelines by reviewing the CDC’s travel website (https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel) Avoid all nonessential travel. Avoid travel to countries and communities that are experiencing ongoing transmission.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-in-the-us.html.

• Discourage workers from using other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment, whenever possible.
• Encourage and enable employee telecommuting to limit person-to-person interactions as much as possible.
• Encourage social distancing by spacing out customer service and check-out lines as much as possible.
• Consider providing delivery or curbside pick-up options to limit interactions in stores.

The Health Department is committed to providing as much information as possible to the public as the COVID-19 situation continues to develop. The Health Department’s hotline number (833-943-1658), was activated March 12, 2020. Since that date, it has fielded hundreds of calls from the general public about COVID-19. Below are statistics about calls into the hotline since March 12, 2020, and a daily number of hotline calls fielded yesterday.

The COVID-19 hotline is answered each day, including Saturday and Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

After-hours calls are returned as soon as possible on the next business day.

The Health Department is also providing a live daily update for media partners Monday – Saturday afternoon at 12:00pm via Zoom webinar through the COVID-19 Joint Task Force. Interpretation services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities will be available.

Keeping Shelby County residents, elected officials, and faith and community leaders informed is an important part of our strategy to control the spread of COVID-19 in our community.