Shelby County reported 691 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, but health department officials said that number is largely due to data, which had been running a few days behind, catching up.
David Sweat with the health department said many people who test positive for the virus don’t showi symptoms, or only show mild symptoms. One out of three people with COVID-19 still are going to work, church and other gatherings, he said.
Those people are spreading the virus, he said.
School-age cases began increasing in late October, Sweat said. Those cases are largely driven by extracurricular activities like sports and cheerleading, Sweat said.
With the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on track to be authorized as early as next month, Shelby County health experts weighed in on the enormous logistical challenge of distribution and who will get the vaccine first when it is approved.
“Everyone is laying the groundwork. They’re planning, planning for how are we going to store it, transport it and get it to the places where it needs to be,” Sweat said.
Dr. Bruce Randolph added it is key to make sure the vaccine is available to those who are on the frontlines. Additionally, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said a statewide mask mandate would be essential to fighting COVID.
Smaller communities across the Mid-South have been hit by the coronavirus very hard, like Brownsville. The city’s mayor is asking people to be responsible and to their part to mitigate the virus.
“I’m asking that you postpone your gatherings until next year,” Mayor Bill Rawls, Brownsville mayor, said. “It’s nothing worse than taking actions and being not cautious and during Thanksgiving and have hospitalizations of loved ones and family members at Christmas.”
Shelby County health experts said unfortunately there have been 589 deaths and 16 in the month of November alone.
