No new cases of coronavirus in Shelby County, officials say
Confirmed total remains at one so far
Shelby County has no new confirmed cases of COVID-19, Alisa Haushalter, director of the county health department, confirmed in a Wednesday afternoon news conference.
That leaves the county's confirmed total at just one.
Additionally, an employee of Shelby County Schools who worked at Treadwell Elementary and Middle School was cleared Tuesday to return to work after being quarantined, said Joris Ray, superintendent of the district. Neither Ray nor Haushalter would say if the employee had been tested, but they said it had been 14 days since the employee had contact with someone with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
Although the employee can return to work, they are being allowed to return after spring break in order to recover from the "ordeal," Ray said.
Shelby County's first confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced Sunday. The patient, described as a non-elderly adult, had traveled to another state.
Since then, the Shelby County Health Department has planned to hold weekly press conferences to discuss the coronavirus on Wednesdays. The health department will not take questions from the media throughout the week, only at its regular press conference and any other media availabilities it calls, officials said Wednesday.
Early Wednesday afternoon, the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center said a veteran is currently being monitored for COVID-19.
There have been nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee, five in Williamson County, one in Sullivan County, one in Shelby County and two in Nashville.
According to the Tennessee Department of Health's website Wednesday, 68 tests had been completed at the state lab. Shelby County has been criticized for the amount of information released about its lone COVID-19 patient, but Haushalter said the information withheld isn't necessary for public health.
“As a public health leader, the information we generally share with the public is information that would affect change," Haushalter said. "Where a person travels, if it's one person that traveled is not as important. … As far as gender and age, that also isn't making a difference in our local response.”
Haushalter would not say how many people in Shelby County have been tested for COVID-19.
In Shelby County, about 80 people are currently in quarantine ordered by the health department, Haushalter said. The health department checks in on them by phone, text or email at certain intervals throughout that 14-day period.
She said decisions on canceling events would be made by public officials after consultation with the health department.
“Right now, if we have events this weekend, we really don't have community transmission so there's not a need to cancel,” Haushalter said. “But we need to look out to what it might look like in May. That needs to be made ultimately by the elected officials with input and support from us. As needed, we can seek additional guidance through the state health department and will likely do that.”
As for schools, Ray said any decision to close would be made in conjunction with the health department, taking into consideration the needs of children who might have their only meal at school.
Shelby County Schools has assembled a team to consider a variety of scenarios related to coronavirus, Ray said.
Memphis 901 FC away match postponed
Hartford Athletic has postponed Memphis 901 FC'S visit following guidance from public health officials in Connecticut.
The match was scheduled to take place April 4. A new date has not yet been announced.
Memphis 901 FC will next play Saint Louis FC at home on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
One veteran being monitored
Early Wednesday afternoon, the Department of Veterans Affairs said the Memphis facility has had no one test positive to date for the coronavirus, but one male veteran was being monitored.
A department spokeswoman did not say whether the person had been tested or if the department was waiting on test results. She also declined to discuss any symptoms. She said the department would likely provide an update later Wednesday.
On Thursday afternoon, VA staff used screening procedures for those trying to enter the hospital. People were asked if they had had any recent travel, new symptoms or had been in contact with someone who may have coronavirus.