Director Alisa Haushalter said the county is currently experiencing a surge in cases related to the Thanksgiving holiday, and the county is preparing for similar increases around Christmas.
Shelby County reported 893 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, for a total of 56,820. The previous day, the country reported a record 998 cases. The seven-day average for new cases is 670 and the test positivity rate is 12.1%
There have been nine new deaths reported, for a total of 752.
Hospitals are utilized at 91%, and at 97% for acute and ICU respectively. There were 512 people in hospitals on Monday.
“It’s up to you to make sure you avoid crowds and gathering,” county health officer Bruce Randolph said, reminding residents about wearing facial coverings and keeping six feet of distance.
“As you well know we are experiencing increasing numbers of new cases,” Randolph said.
With the countdown to Christmas shifting into gear, a new warning from health experts about a current surge of COVID cases and the upcoming holiday.
“We are seeing a surge that is related to the Thanksgiving holiday,” Haushalter said. “We know we’re going into the Christmas holiday, so this a predictor we are going to have a significant number of cases as we go into January.”
Regarding the surge leading to a new and stricter health directive, meaning the closure of businesses and restaurants, it was made clear that will depend on if the public will socially distance and mask up.
“It’s up to you. I think the health department has done all that it can short of taking drastic measures of going back to Safer at Home and closing down things. That is not a desire of ours,” Randolph said.
The Pfizer vaccine has been shipped and should be in hospitals this week. Randolph urged residents to get the vaccine.
Haushalter said the Shelby County Health Department expects to receive the Moderna vaccine ahead of FDA approval, and could begin vaccinating as soon as Dec. 28 for those high on the priority list.
