MEMPHIS, Tennessee — 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
Shelby County Sheriff's Office updates on COVID-19 cases in department & detention
3:45 p.m. - The Shelby County Sheriff's Office says 46 employees have tested positive for COVID-19; 42 of those are in corrections. Two are hospitalized and 18 have recovered.
134 detainees have tested positive and 11 have recovered.
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Tennessee reports 345 new cases, 4 new deaths, more than 7,000 total recoveries
3:25 p.m. - The Tennessee Department of Health reports 345 new COVID-19 cases and 4 new deaths in the state. A total of 7,011 have recovered.
The totals now stand at 14,441 cases and 241 deaths in the state. 243,578 people have been tested.
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WATCH: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves gives update on COVID-19 response in the state / extends safer at home order
2:30 p.m. - Watch HERE.
(MS GOV'S OFFICE NEWS RELEASE) - Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced the next stage for Mississippi to continue safely reopening the state's economy while protecting public health.
In a new executive order, Governor Reeves extends his Safer At Home Order for another two weeks until 8:00 AM on Monday, May 25 in an effort to continue flattening the curve while allowing Mississippians to get back to work safely. Consulting with our state health officials, the Governor also lays out strict social distancing guidelines and sanitation protocols for salons, barbershops, and gyms to begin reopening now to restore the livelihoods of the small businesses owners and their employees.
"The human cost of another Great Depression is higher than the benefit of broad orders. As we work to re-open our economy, that is not a signal that the threat of the virus is gone. It is a shift in strategy because months of making it illegal for small businesses to operate is not sustainable. To the people of Mississippi: I am asking you—begging you—to exercise your personal responsibility," said Governor Tate Reeves.
Governor Reeves announced his new executive order at his daily press briefing today, which you can view on our Facebook page here.
In this latest executive order, the Governor lays out strict social distancing guidelines to begin the process of slowly and safely reopening salons, barbershops, and gyms, including:
SALONS & BARBERSHOPS:
For businesses:
- Before they can reopen, the entire salon or barbershop must be deep-cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized top to bottom. After opening, salons and barbershops must be deep-cleaned daily.
- All salons and barbershops are expected to take every step necessary to implement the regulations, orders, and guidance from the Mississippi State Department of Health and CDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Hand sanitizer must be placed at all entrances.
- Minimizing person-to-person contact through technology, like mobile or online reservations and contact-less payment, is encouraged.
- Salons and barbershops must post signage at each entrance stating no customer with a fever or COVID-19 symptoms are allowed in.
- Chairs are to be rearranged to ensure at least 6 feet between each customer and be sanitized after each use by a customer.
- Only one customer per employee is allowed in the salon or barbershop at any given time.
For employees:
- All employees will be screened daily at the beginning of their shifts, including asking whether they have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and have they had a fever in the last 48 hours.
- Face coverings must be provided to all employees who come in direct contact with customers. Employees are required to wear that face covering throughout their shift and clean or replace daily.
- Employees must also wear disposable gloves and change them between customers, as well as wash their hands between every customer.
- All employees must be provided training on how to limit the spread of COVID-19.
For customers:
- All waiting areas are to remain closed. Customers must wait in their vehicles until their appointment time and they are called for screening before entering.
- Customers must sanitize their hands when entering and exiting.
- Customers will be screened upon entry, including asking whether they have experienced any symptoms of COVID-19.
- Customers must wear a face covering, such as a cloth mask, while inside at all times, unless they're receiving a service that would be impeded by the covering.
- Each customer must be draped with a clean cape, which are to be laundered after each use. A protective neck strip should also be placed around the neck of each customer getting a haircut.
GYMS:
For businesses:
- Before they can reopen, the entire gym must be deep-cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized top to bottom. After opening, gyms must be deep-cleaned daily.
- All gyms are expected to take every step necessary to implement the regulations, orders, and guidance from the Mississippi State Department of Health and CDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Gyms must close to the public by 10:00 PM each day.
- In addition to other gym staff, there must be at least one employee onsite during hours of operation dedicated to wiping down equipment after each use.
- All high-touch areas must be sanitized at least once every two hours.
- Exercise machines and equipment must be rearranged and.or deactivated to ensure at least 6 feet between customers.
- Gyms must post signage at each entrance stating no customer with a fever or COVID-19 symptoms are allowed in.
- Hand sanitizer must be placed at all entrances and throughout the gym floor.
- All common areas must remain closed.
For employees:
- All employees will be screened daily at the beginning of their shifts, including asking whether they have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and have they had a fever in the last 48 hours.
- Face coverings must be provided to all employees who come in direct contact with customers. Employees are required to wear that face covering throughout their shift and clean or replace daily.
- All employees must be provided training on how to limit the spread of COVID-19.
- Every employee on the gym floor must wear disposable gloves to be changed at least once an hour.
For customers:
- No more than 30% of the gym's maximum capacity. Gyms are encouraged to limit customers' time to a max of 1 hour per day.
- Classes or group exercises are allowed with customers maintaining a minimum of a 6-foot distance apart.
- Customers must sanitize their hands when entering and exiting the gym and when they move between equipment.
You can view the text version of the Executive Order No. 1480 here.
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WATCH: Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson gives update on COVID-19 response in the state
1:30 p.m. - Watch HERE.
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WATCH: Memphis & Shelby County COVID-19 Task Force briefing
12:00 p.m. - Watch HERE.
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Mississippi reports 404 new cases, 13 new deaths; Desoto County has 5 new cases, no new deaths
11:20 a.m. - The Mississippi State Department of Health reports 404 new COVID-19 cases and 13 new deaths in the state.
There have been a total of 9,090 cases with 409 deaths in Mississippi.
Desoto County reports 5 new cases and no new deaths. There have been a total of 325 cases and 5 deaths in the county.
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Shelby County reports 73 new cases, 2 new deaths, more than 1800 total recoveries
10:00 a.m. - Shelby County now reports 73 new COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths, and 1,803 total recoveries.
There have been a total of 3,113 cases and 66 deaths in the county.
have been tested in Shelby County.
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Memphis Zoo announces phased reopening plan
The Memphis Zoo willreopen on Wednesday, May 13th.
The zoo will limit any unnecessary contact or crowding by putting a cap on guest admissions...no more than 2,500 people at any given time. The front gate will be the only entrance point into Memphis Zoo. To limit personal contact, the zoo will only accept credit cards, membership cards with proper ID, Apple pay, and tickets purchased through the zoo’s website or by phone.
Nonmembers can pay for parking on the zoo website or at the front gate.
No outside food or beverages will be allowed, with exceptions being made for those with dietary restrictions.
What the zoo is doing to keep our guests safe:
- All guests and zoo team members will be asked to wear facial covering consistent with in-public guidance.
- Guests will see markers placed around the zoo to make sure everyone remains six feet apart.
- Directional markers will be provided to guide guests throughout their visit.
- Guests and team members will have access to hand sanitizer stations.
- Various food items will be sold from kiosks that will be equipped with plexiglass barriers to protect all.
- To limit contact, the zoo will not accept cash. Major credit cards or Apple pay only.
- Zoo staff will be continuously cleaning all high-touch surfaces like windows, vending machines and more.
Below are the activities and facilities that are unavailable until further notice:
- All rides (trams, children’s rides, train)
- Playground
- Seasonal activities
- Keeper chats and shows
- Water play areas
- Indoor exhibits
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Mid-South Food Bank mobile pantry locations for May 8, 2020
- Memphis, SLIM House 1130 College 38106, 11 a.m.
- Memphis, School Seed, 320 Joubert Ave. 38109, 4 p.m.
- Lafayette Cty, MS- 70 Buddy Parkway in Oxford 38655, 9 a.m.
- Memphis, Breath of Life Christian Center 3795 Frayser Raleigh Rd. 38128, 10 a.m.
- Memphis, Iglesia Nueva Vida 7981 Summer Ave 38133, 10 a.m.
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Almost 3,700 positive coronavirus cases in Arkansas
(KTHV, 7:05 a.m.) - As of Thursday evening, May 7, the Arkansas Department of Health confirmed a total of 3,694 positive cases.
On Wednesday, April 29, 2,520 COVID-19 tests were performed in Arkansas, with a 1.5% positivity rate. This is the highest number of tests run in one day in the state since March 11.
Key facts to know:
- 3,694 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Arkansas
- 63,994 total tests
- 60,300 negative test results
- 88 reported deaths
- 70 currently hospitalized
- 2,867 recoveries
- All Arkansas schools are closed for the remainder of the school year
Cases in Arkansas' Mid-South counties:
- Crittenden County has 203 cases; 7 deaths
- Cross County has 27 cases
- Lee County has 4 cases; 1 death
- Mississippi County has 42 cases
- Monroe County has 4 cases
- Phillips County has 4 cases; 1 death
- Poinsett County has 25 cases; 2 deaths
- St. Francis County has 104 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.
