Tennessee Department of Health reports 3,633 cases in state, Shelby County reaches 754 cases

Memphis Commercial Appeal

This file was last updated Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

By the numbers: The number of deaths from novel coronavirus has risen to a total of 11 in Shelby County, and the total number of cases has reached 754, the city of Memphis posted on its web site Sunday morning. The case count is up from 706 reported the day before.

Statewide cases of the coronavirus in Tennessee reached 3,633 Sunday afternoon, up from 3,067 on Friday. There have been 44 deaths and 328 hospitalizations, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.

Virus transforms the experience of grocery shopping in the Memphis area

Our reporters visited several businesses in the Memphis area this weekend and found the coronavirus pandemic continues to transform the experience of going shopping.

Far more people are wearing face coverings and far more businesses are enforcing social distancing. Here's an on-the-ground look at what it's like.

Palm Sunday goes digital

Churches in the Memphis area found creative ways to celebrate Palm Sunday without gathering in person, including urging people to watch services online and encouraging them to create palms of their own.

We take a look at some of the new approaches to this Easter-season celebration.

Some FedEx pilots removed from duty after 'inconclusive' COVID-19 tests

An unspecified number of FedEx pilots were flown back to the U.S. from China and removed from flight duty after getting “inconclusive” results on COVID-19 tests.

FedEx said Sunday the pilots “have been removed from duty and are self-isolating while follow-up testing and evaluation is performed.” The areas where the pilots work are being cleaned and disinfected.

According to FedEx, a “small number” of its employees throughout the company have been confirmed to have COVID-19. The Memphis-based logistics giant said it’s continuing to take all needed precautions and following guidance from public health organizations.

Memphis hospitals brace for COVID-19 surge

With the beginning of the predicted coronavirus surge already hitting Memphis hospitals, the metro area’s four major medical systems are working to expand capacity, particularly the critical care capacity that will be needed for COVID-19 patients with the most severe symptoms.

While Gov. Bill Lee announced Thursday that the Gateway Shopping Center would be retrofitted to allow for 170 hospital beds — a piece of a joint state and Army Corps of Engineers project that could add hundreds of additional hospital beds in the city — local experts say more intensive care and negative pressure beds are what could be needed most.

Memphis City Councilman and physician Jeff Warren sounded the alarm on potentially insufficient hospital capacity at a press conference on March 23, when Shelby County had 84 reported COVID-19 cases.

Seventh person at assisted living facility tests positive for COVID-19

David Sweat, chief of epidemiology and infectious diseases for the Shelby County Health Department, said Saturday that an additional resident at the Carriage Court assisted living facility had tested positive for COVID-19. Five other residents and one employee have also tested positive.

Sweat said the same precautions are in place, with those who tested positive for the virus in isolation and all others quarantined.

He said that it was not clear if any recently reported COVID-19 cases came from other assisted living or nursing facilities but said he could not definitively say that none of the cases were from residential care centers.

The first COVID-19 case at Carriage Court was identified "a few weeks ago," Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter said Monday. The department learned of the second case "about two weeks earlier" and did significant testing last weekend. As of Tuesday, family members of residents were being notified of the outbreak and the health department identified the facility Wednesday.

Nike temporarily closes Memphis warehouse after employee tests positive for COVID-19

Nike has temporarily closed one of its Memphis distribution facilities after a warehouse employee tested positively for COVID-19.

Nike confirmed the temporary closure to The Commercial Appeal in an email Saturday.

The center is scheduled to open again Sunday at 6 a.m., the company said in a statement. During the closure, Nike conducted "a comprehensive disinfection process."

Nike did not confirm which facility was closed.

According to MLK50, which first reported the story Friday, the closed facility is Nike's North American Logistic Campus in Frayser. MLK50 reported that the facility closed Thursday afternoon.

Nike told The Commercial Appeal that during the closure period, "we will pay our employees who have altered schedules and will pay based on standard hours.”

Shelby County reports a total of 10 deaths from COVID-19

Shelby County has had a total of 10 deaths due to COVID-19, according to the Shelby County Health Department. This is up from 8 total deaths on Friday.

There are 706 COVID-19 cases reported in Shelby County, up from 640 reported on Friday.

Local artist dies from COVID-19 complications

Memphis artist Dan Spector died this week after contracting the novel coronavirus, his family said. Spector died on Tuesday. He was 68.

An industrial modeler, Spector operated Archicast on Broad Avenue for 25 years before the shop closed in 2016. He was deeply connected to the Memphis arts community.

The Memphis in May International Festival said he spent more than 700 hours volunteering for the annual festival and that he served on the production committee for several years.

Funeral services were held via a Zoom webcast.

Friday updates

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MATA to receive $35 million from federal CARES Act
First Congo Food Justice Ministry pauses distribution due to COVID-19
Mayor Jim Strickland encourages all Memphians to wear face coverings
45 percent reduction good but not good enough
Shelby County Health Department reports one additional death
"Welcome to Memphis" one-time grants open to hospitality industry workers
Reported cases of COVID-19 increase by two from Thursday

Thursday updates

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Second Kroger employee tests positive
Former Grizzlies player funds food pantry at SCS Board of Education
State board to issue high school graduation guidance next week
Gateway Shopping Center to be retrofitted into overflow COVID-19 hospital
Gov. Bill Lee orders Tennesseans to stay at home as state continues to fight spread of coronavirus
Memphis whiskey makers switch to hand sanitizer; B.R. Distilling to fill 250,000 bottles
Memphis leaders: The surge is coming. You can blunt it by staying apart.
Deaths from COVID-19 rise to 7 in Shelby County
Reported cases of COVID-19 in Shelby County rises to 638

Wednesday updates

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Wave of COVID-19 patients hits Memphis hospitals
Memphis Emergency Management seeks volunteers
Kroger grants workers $2 per hour hazard raise, promises enhanced safety
Regional cooperation ramps up as officials stress importance of 'safer at home' orders
David Crosby concert at Graceland postponed
Welcome to Memphis offers one-time grants to hospitality workers
Cell phone store gives away surgical masks
Juvenile detention center officer tests positive for COVID-19
Shelby County health department identifies assisted living facility impacted by COVID-19 outbreak
Methodist system solicits mask donations
U of M 3D-prints face-shield frames to donate to Tennessee hospitals
Strickland extends emergency declaration for seven days
Reported case count of COVID-19 rises to 497
Shelby County Clerk's office temporarily closes

Tuesday updates

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Poplar Healthcare processes COVID-19 tests
State urges use of their unemployment app
Two more COVID-19 deaths reported in Shelby County
Second Presbyterian church reports clergy death due to COVID-19
Reported COVID-19 cases in Shelby County top 400

Monday updates

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Shelby County marks dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases
Redbirds, 901 FC staff sees layoffs, furloughs amid coronavirus pandemic
Loan fund created to help Downtown businesses at risk of closure
Germantown announces layoffs of part-time employees
Rep. Cohen asks for shelter-in-place orders in Mississippi, Arkansas
$1.3 million Memphis contract for masks illustrates search for COVID-19 protective gear

Weekend updates

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Vulnerable people should wear face masks, and anyone else can consider wearing one, too, says city's task force
Memphis-based manufacturer donates 14,000 masks to local workers
Threat of storms closes coronavirus testing at Fairgrounds
Tennessee cases count rises to 1,373
Shelby County reports first COVID-19 death
Shelby County reports 275 cases

Friday updates

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7 Memphis firefighters test positive for COVID-19
Basketball courts, dog parks among recreational areas now closed
Public visitation at county jails halted
Tennessee count of reported COVID-19 cases tops 1,200
Shelby County DA's office updates on court proceedings, inmates
Memphis airport traffic sees big drop
BISSELL sponsors pet adoptions in Memphis
Reported COVID-19 cases in Shelby County rise
COVID-19 testing site now open to the public

Thursday updates

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Kroger warehouse worker positive, union says
MPD Director in quarantine
Strickland: 11 employees positive
Pink Palace launches ’museum to-go'
TN Dems push Lee for statewide plan, shelter-in-place
Explore Bike Share offers free access
Juvenile Court to hold smaller number of in-custody proceedings
Annual commemoration of MLK's death will be virtual this year
Bored kiddos? Brooks museum "Chalkfest" exhibit to go virtual
Christ Community Health Services receives federal grant
Shelby County reported case count at 198
Senate passes stimulus plan

Last Wednesday updates

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WMC, SCS to broadcast home lessons for students
TN Dept. of Human Services announces workforce program
SCS board cancels March meetings
COVID-19 impacting young people in Shelby Co
Majority of Memphis city hall staff working from home
Oak Court, Southland Mall announce temporary closures
Pastor at Hope Church in Memphis tests positive for COVID-19
Shelby County inmates test negative for COVID-19
Regional One employees test positive for COVID-19
COVID-19 case count rises to 170 for Shelby County

Last Tuesday updates

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'Shelter in place' health directive issued for Shelby County
TVA donates respirator masks
Kroger warehouse employees working to keep 100 grocery stores stocked
St. Jude has tested almost 200 people for COVID-19 with its own program
'Difficult' for Memphis to return to work in two weeks, health department says
Tennessee case count now 667
Shelby County coronavirus count climbs to 135
Amid partial shutdown, local businesses get creative, change services - delivery of books, $4 sack lunches for kids
Cancellation of "Rocky Horror" performance illustrates broad impact of virus on our society
MLGW restricts public access to its offices
OUTMemphis requests donations for food and hygiene kits
Memphis hospitals serve multi-county region, could see COVID-19 cases from far away
Memphis Police Department restricts access to its stations
Memphis restaurants offering in-house delivery to employ servers
Old Dominick Distillery to produce up to 10,000 units of hand sanitizer
MATA reinforces City of Memphis executive order

Last Monday updates

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Shelby County Jail employee tests positive for coronavirus
Several Germantown Fire Department employees in isolation
Clerk's office closes after employee gets coronavirus
Tennessee cases climb to 615
Harris plans to join Memphis in shelter-in-place order
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland issues 'safer at home' executive order
COVID-19 reported case county reaches 84 in Shelby County
Memphis football coaching staff pledges 360 meals to Mid-South Food Bank
American Job Centers close locations but still accept phone appointments
DeSoto County COVID-19 cases rise to 23
MATA adds temporary travel limitations for MATAplus customers