MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Shelby County Health Department is issuing a warning as Mid-Southerners head into the Labor Day weekend filled with families, football and with schools already resuming.
“These are three potentially challenging events that could increase our transmission or show the safety measures we have in place work,” said Shelby County Health Officer Dr. Bruce Randolph.
As of Thursday, there were 27,865 COVID cases, and 387 deaths. Health experts say, much like the Fourth of July, one key demographic that concerns them this holiday is young people.
“Those people 21 to 30 years old were actively acquiring and transmitting COVID-19 than any other age. And that’s important to recognize as we head into the holiday weekend,” said Dr. David Sweat, deputy director of the Shelby County Health Department.
Saturday, Tigers fans will be heading to the Liberty Bowl to see the University of Memphis football team. Fans are urged to separate by 12 feet and wear facial masks.
“We’re asking you to adhere to this so that we can allow fans at the games and not revert back to more restrictive measures,” Randolph said.
This weekend also means backyard gatherings with family and friends.
“I just want to remind people, though, transmission of the virus can occur in a crowd of three as well as a crowd of 300,” Randolph said.
The health department also announced it’s testing what it calls a dry run for distribution of a COVID vaccine when one is developed.
“It’ll be utilizing drive-thru points of distribution and a couple of locations where we’ll use the influenza vaccine,” Sweat said.
A COVID vaccine would likely be offered initially to first responders.
“We don’t have a vaccine that’s demonstrating efface, but what the CDC is asking us to do is lay the groundwork,” Sweat said.
Health experts want to plan for the future and this holiday.
“Let’s move forward so we can reopen all of our establishments,” Randolph said.
