COVID-19 Update from Mayor Strickland (10-14)

As some local restrictions have been relaxed, I wanted to reiterate to you today that over the last few months, we had made significant strides in reducing the spread. However, over the last few weeks the positivity rate, the reproductive rate of the virus, and our daily number of new cases and hospitalizations have risen.

While some of our business restrictions locally have been loosened, the virus is still very much alive and well as you can see in the charts above.

This is no time to let our guard down. We must continue wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and good hygiene. We’re inching closer and closer to flu season, and these things are the best weapons we have in the fight to keep our community healthy.

Mask Enforcement

DATA AND ACTIONS FOR OCTOBER 13

Received 12 complaints (which must be processed and not yet open) 

• City Mask Ordinance
• Code completed 18 inspections based on processed complaints.
• 6 business received warnings. 
• 0 business received a summons.
• 0 businesses received a second summons

• H.D. Mask and Other Violations
• Code completed 2 inspection based on processed complaints
• 0 business received warnings

ENFORCEMENT STATUS TO DATE – CITY MASK ORDINANCE

To date, 1,193 City Mask Complaints have been inspected by Code:

• 1,073 complaints have been resolved as “compliant” following inspection by Code
• 31 current open matters.  The following is a breakdown of the open matters:

• 14 pending inspections 
• 6 business on 1st Violation
• 1 businesses on 2nd Violation
• 0 businesses on 3rd Violation
• 6 businesses have been issued first summons
• 2 businesses have been issued second summons 
• 2 businesses were closed at first inspection (NOH)

ENFORCEMENT STATUS TO DATE – HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTIVES

To date, 242  H.D. related complaints have been inspected by Code:

• 194 complaints have been resolved as “compliant” following inspection by Code.
• 1 current open matters.  The following is a breakdown of the open matters:
• 1 pending inspection 
  • 0 businesses on 1st Violation
  • 0 business on 2nd Violation
  • 0 businesses on 3rd Violation 
  • 0  business was closed at first inspection (NOH)

WRITTEN VIOLATIONS SUMMARY

To date, 598 City Mask Ordinance violations have been issued (this is the cumulative total for violations issued in closed and open matters)

To date, 88 Health Department violations have been issued (this is the cumulative total for violations issued in closed and open matters)

Shelby County Health Department COVID-19 Daily Update: October 14, 2020

Shelby County Health Department is tracking clusters in facilities that serve certain vulnerable populations:

Here is information about clusters considered to be resolved. A cluster is considered resolved once a facility has gone 28 days without a new case:

Health Directive No. 14 is issued to provide for further protection for individuals who are facing eviction and to clarify ongoing questions about whether schools may reopen.

• It provides the following required notice to tenants in eviction matters: “If you or anyone in your household are currently quarantined or are in isolation due to COVID-19 and are unable to secure housing at this time, please notify the Shelby County Health Department by calling 901-222-MASK (which is 901-222-6275) or by faxing the information to 901-222-8249. Temporary housing support may be available.”
• It provides clarification that school opening/closure decisions are for the local boards of education. The Health Department will provide technical assistance as requested by any school.

Many Shelby County families are planning for the upcoming holiday season, beginning with Halloween. The Shelby County Health Department is sharing information based upon guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to take part in Halloween celebrations in ways that reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Halloween Activities:

Not Permitted: Gatherings and events that are not allowed under the current Health Directive:

• Halloween events or parties that encourage the gathering of large numbers of people are not permitted even if they are conducted outdoors.
• Carnivals, festivals, parades and haunted houses are not permitted.

Not Recommended:

• Door-to-door trick or treating is not recommended for any age group because it can be very difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors and because sharing food is risky.
• “Trunk or treating” where children go from car to car instead of door to door to receive treats is also not recommended because it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.

Permitted and Recommended:

• Online parties/contests (i.e. costume or pumpkin carving)
• Drive-by events, including events where individual participants remain in their vehicles.
• Halloween movie nights at drive-in theaters that meet the requirements of the current Health Directive.
• Decorating homes and yards with Halloween-themed decorations.
• Outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities.

Personal Protection Measures:

• If you are sick or have been in contact with someone who is sick with COVID-19, stay home and away from others and seek testing.
• Correctly wear a cloth facial covering to prevent disease spread. Wear a cloth mask with two or more layers over the nose and mouth and secure it under the chin.
• Avoid confined spaces – Actively avoid indoor spaces that don’t allow for easy distancing of at least six feet between yourself and others.
• Avoid close contact – Stay at least six feet away from all other people who are not part of your own household, especially when talking, eating and drinking.
• Wash or sanitize your hands often.
• Clean frequently touched items regularly.

Know where to get reliable information:

Beware of scams, false news and hoaxes about COVID-19. Accurate information, including announcements of new cases in Shelby County will always be distributed by the Shelby County Health Department through press releases, social media, and our website: www.shelbytnhealth.com.

• Social media: @ShelbyTNHealth on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

Other reliable sources of information about COVID-19 are:

• Tennessee Department of Health COVID-19 webpage: https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Shelby County has plenty of testing capacity available, and anyone who thinks they need a test should get one. Two of the community drive-through testing sites are now available to anyone, and no appointment is needed during their regular testing hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. Those sites are:

• 2355 Appling City Cove
• 1720 RKS Commercial Cove (off Lamar Avenue)

The Shelby County Health Department, in association with community partners Latino Memphis, St. Michaels Catholic Church, Iglesia Methodista Unida el Redentor and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, is offering free COVID-19 walk-up testing throughout the month of October. 

• Thursday, October 15, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  • Where: St. Michaels Catholic Church | 3863 Summer Ave., Memphis, TN 38122
  • On-Site Contact Information: Alexis Zamora | 901-216-7360 | Alexis.zamora@stmichaelschurch.org
• Saturday, October 17, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • Where: Iglesia Methodista Unida el Redentor | 2969 S Mendenhall Rd., Memphis, TN 38115
  • On-Site Contact Information: Reverend Luz Campos | 901-517-3522
• Saturday, October 24, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  • Where: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church | 8151 Chimney Rock Blvd., Memphis, TN 38016 | Perish Life Center Room 113
  • On-Site Contact Information: Barbara King | 901-756-1213

The testing is free and available to anyone, age 13 and older, while testing supplies last. Spanish interpretation will be available at both locations throughout the testing events. Each person tested will be asked to provide an address and two telephone numbers, so that they can be contacted within two to three days with the test results.

Testing will be available to those who are asymptomatic and those who have symptoms. Free reusable masks will also be provided to everyone who is tested. Free reusable masks will be provided to everyone who is tested. $125 Kroger gift cards will also be provided during the October 17^th and October 24^th testing events to cover basic home and food expenses for individuals awaiting COVID-19 testing results.

The Health Department strongly recommends vaccination against influenza. It is possible to get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, and that may increase the risk of severe illness. The flu vaccine will not protect you against COVID-19, but it is the best protection we have against seasonal influenza.

Flu vaccine is now available on a sliding fee scale based on income at all the Health Department’s public health clinics listed below:

• Cawthon Public Health Clinic

1000 Haynes, 38114

• Collierville Public Health Clinic (Tuesday and Thursday Only, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

167 Washington St., 38017

• Hickory Hill Public Health Clinic

  6590 Kirby Center Cove, 38118

• Immunization Clinic

814 Jefferson, Rm. 216, 38105

• Millington Public Health Clinic

8225 Highway 51 North, 38053

• Southland Mall Public Health Clinic

1287 Southland Mall, 38116

• Sycamore View Public Health Clinic

1826 Sycamore View Road, 38134