Local deaths from COVID likely closer to 200
Jon McCullers — who has studied uncounted mortality from influenza for years — said the State of Tennessee is probably recording about 60% of deaths truly related to the coronavirus.
Publisher: The Memphis Business Journal
Strickland extends phase two; McCullers discusses reasoning and recent protests (Update)
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland has extended phase two of the city’s reopening through June 16. Shelby County has been unable to maintain a steady number of new coronavirus cases since entering phase two of the back-to-business plan. And, between the social interactivity from Memorial Day and recent protests, it is unlikely the numbers will improve… Read More
Here’s the trend that almost delayed Phase II, could postpone Phase III
When Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland announced the local back-to-business plan on April 27, he identified “flat or decreasing hospitalizations” as one of the keys to move from one phase to the next.
Economy vs. public health: Dulberger, McCullers discuss the ‘terrible balancing act’ of reopening
The decision to start reopening the local economy wasn’t a simple formula, based on a couple of public health data points. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, and their advisors weighed positivity rates, replication rates, hospital capacity, and a host of other health statistics. As Strickland told the Memphis Business Journal last… Read More
Here’s why Shelby County felt comfortable differing from White House recommendations
The White House’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again provide multiple criteria — related to symptoms, cases, and hospitals — for localities to meet before beginning to reopen businesses.
Why Mayor Strickland felt the time was right to reopen some businesses
Strickland said the reopening decision is not an experiment but acknowledged that its consequences are unknown.
City, county announce start date for Phase 1 of ‘back to business’
Memphis and Shelby County have decided the first phase of its back-to-business plan will begin Monday, May 4.“As we said at the beginning of this week, our data was trending in the right direction. Along with our doctors, we believe it’s time to slowly start opening our economy back up and get Memphians working again,”… Read More
How prepared is Memphis for a grim — but realistic — COVID-19 peak?
The news was suddenly bright: An updated model released Monday projected that Tennessee’s hospitals could handle the anticipated rush of COVID-19 patients — with plenty of beds, ICU beds and ventilators to spare.