MEMPHIS, Tenn. As Tennessee is declared by a White House task force as being in the red zone due to increasing virus diagnoses per capita, Mid-South officials said progress is being made in the fight against COVID-19 by masking up.<\/p>\n
We acted early, Shelby County Commissioner Van Turner said. Weve been more adamant about protecting the citizens of Shelby County so we see the results.<\/p>\n
A masking study out this week shows were doing a better job at it, City Councilman Dr. Jeff Warren said. We have to keep at it, and we cant let down our guard.<\/p>\n
The health department said there have been more than 20,000 total cases, more than 360 new cases as of Wednesday and a total of 262 deaths.<\/p>\n
But will the Shelby County COVID-19 cases trigger the state to open the alternate care facility at the former Commercial Appeal building?<\/p>\n
The thing to remember is right now with the numbers that we have, we dont need that hospital, Dr. Warren said. If we continue to see a decrease in the rate of increase, we slow our rate of increase.<\/p>\n
The rate of increase can be slowed by wearing face masks, proper hand washing and social distancing to avoid talk of opening an alternate care hospitals.<\/p>\n
If we do this right, we wont need a second one, and we may not even need the first one, and if we do this wrong, we may need a second, third and fourth one, Warren said. We dont want to go there because that means people are dying left and right.<\/p>\n
Long before the Commercial Appeal site, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Tennessee began retrofitting the Gateway shopping center on Jackson Avenue until plans stalled.<\/p>\n
The community I think didnt want a lot sick people there, and I think the C.A. is a much better position because its in a more industrial area, Dr. Warren said.<\/p>\n
I can understand that being an issue, but its not like the pandemic or virus will spread because that facility is near you, Turner said.<\/p>\n
To avoid more hospitals opening up, city leaders say to mask up.<\/p>\n
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Mid-South officials pleased with progress being made in fight against COVID-19 - WREG NewsChannel 3<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MEMPHIS, Tenn. Continue reading