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Coronavirus in Memphis: Financial strain of COVID-19 shutters high school at Immaculate Conception

Memphis Commercial Appeal

Last updated at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2020

By the numbers: Shelby County's count of reported novel coronavirus cases rose to 4,531 Tuesday, up from 4,404 on Monday according to the Shelby County Health Department. There have been 94 deaths in Shelby County from COVID-19 complications.

Statewide, there were 20,965 reported COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, up from 20,607 reported cases Monday, per the state health department. Of the 20,965 cases, 13,344 had recovered. The health department reported 343 deaths statewide.

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Facing pandemic-related financial hardship, IC will close its high school

The high school at Immaculate Conception Cathedral School will not be reopening this fall, according to a letter sent Tuesday by the Very Rev. Robert Marshall, Jr., pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

The school does plan to reopen its pre-kindergarten through 8th grade elementary and middle school for the 2020-2021 school year.

According to Marshall's letter, the all-girls high school has faced enrollment challenges for years. Now, economic hardship related to COVID-19 has caused an additional challenge for many families attending the school. Additionally, many students were receiving financial aid grants from the parish, Marshall wrote, a level of support that couldn't be continued.

In addition to coronavirus-related financial challenges for families and for the school, the

The high school students will be offered the opportunity to study at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School.

The high school dates back to 1922, Marshall wrote in his letter.

"It is heartbreaking that a school that survived so much would be felled by a pandemic, but we have no doubt that the faith first planted by the Sisters of Mercy so many years ago will continue to blossom in all whose hearts were touched by their years on our campus."

UT system will end face-to-face classes by fall, due to COVID-19

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will end face-to-face classes before Thanksgiving to limit the number of students traveling off campus next semester, the university announced Tuesday.

Classes will begin as scheduled on Aug. 19. Classes will be held on Labor Day and during the previously scheduled fall break, Oct. 8 and 9, to allow the semester to end early, on Nov. 24. Finals will now be held online after Thanksgiving break.

"Things on campus will be different, but Volunteers are committed to taking care of one another," Chancellor Donde Plowman said in an email to students. "We will work together for the well-being of our community and are counting on you to be a partner in creating a safe environment."

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Cluster outbreaks in long-term care facilities “not under control”

Following an increase of 19 reported cases of COVID-19 at one long-term care facility for seniors, Shelby County Health Department director Alisa Haushalter said cluster outbreaks at such facilities in Shelby County are “not under control”.

Parkway Health & Rehab, the facility where an additional 19 cases of COVID-19 among residents have been reported, is one of 19 similar facilities in Shelby County currently battling cluster infections.

Among the challenges facing these facilities, Haushalter said, is a lack of healthy staff members and the fact that COVID-19 may not be as obvious in elderly residents.

“With seniors and particularly those with chronic illnesses, their symptoms may not be as overt,” Haushlater said. “They may not have an overt cough or fever, they may just have more tiredness or even more confusion.”

The county health department will continue to work with the state health department as the public health agencies aim to elevate testing in long-term care facilities in Shelby County and across the state.

To date, 41 residents of long-term care facilities in Shelby County have died from COVID-19 complications.

COVID-19 case count in Shelby County rises by 127

On Tuesday, the reported case count of COVID-19 in Shelby County rose by 127 for a total of 4,531 cases. One new fatality from COVID-19 complications was reported. In total, 94 Shelby County residents have died from the virus.

The positivity rate of COVID-19 tests in Shelby County is 6.8 percent.

So far, 3,047 residents have recovered from COVID-19 in Shelby County.

May 23-25 updates

126 new cases, 1 death reported Sunday in Shelby County
Of 5 tested, 1 Shelby County Corrections inmate has tested positive for COVID-19
100 new cases, 1 new death reported Saturday

Click here to read the Memorial Day weekend updates.

May 22 updates

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Here's where you can get a COVID-19 test on Memorial Day
SCSO reports 156 of inmates have recovered from COVID-19, increased testing planned
Pediatric cases in Shelby County jump to 7.5% of total, minorities disparately affected
Of total reported case in Shelby County, nearly 70% are recovered
Updated CDC guidance eases fears of contracting the coronavirus from surfaces

May 21 updates

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General Sessions Civil Courts to resume in-person cases June 15
County health official pleads for safe behavior over Labor Day weekend
New cases fewer than 30 in Shelby County
Week-over-week unemployment claims decline, slightly

May 20 updates

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Food and supply drive for Mid-South Food Bank on Thursday
128 more COVID-19 cases reported in Shelby County
Memphis Zoo increases visitor capacity

May 19 updates

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116 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Shelby County
MLGW, TVA partner to donate $400K to nonprofits
Thousands will have to retake virtual AP exam due to technology glitches
Application portal for health department jobs opens up

May 18 updates

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ICU usages were up for a few days, but are now trending back down
Case count in Tennessee rises by 623
Bill Lee talks about the COVID-19 Tennessee Alternate Care site
County health department announces start of Phase 2
Shelby County reported case count rises by 42
ICU admissions eased over weekend

May 16-17 updates

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County health department reports 3,719 COVID-19 cases
Horseshoe casino in Tunica to reopen
Kroger ends hazard pay, local grocer pays bonus
House passes $3 trillion stimulus bill

May 15 updates

Shelby Co. Sheriff: 151 detainees, 66 employees positive
Germantown cancels fireworks event
Assisted living facility clusters remain under investigation

May 14 updates

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Officials still worried about lack of facemasks
No decision yet about when phase two will begin
Germantown Fire Department to distribute masks to residents
Reported COVID-19 case count rises by 61
New unemployment claims continue decline

May 13 updates

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State health department reports 16,370 cases of COVID-19
Vanderbilt reduces coronavirus peak hospitalization projection from thousands to 300
Memphis' Malco Drive-In reopens Friday
New case count up by 41, plus four new fatalities

May 12 updates

State health department reports over 16,000 COVID-19 cases in Tennessee
Reported COVID-19 case rises to 3,421
U of M creates low-tech way to help COVID-19 patients on ventilators communicate
Tennis is back in Memphis. A look at the first day and new guidelines

May 11 updates

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Social distancing complaints lead to drag racing arrests
85 new cases of COVID-19 in Shelby County

May 9-10 updates

14,985 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Tennessee
3,230 COVID-19 cases reported in Shelby County
COVID-19 cases climb at Bartlett juvenile residential facility, 45 of 48 tested positive
U of M awards 2,500 degrees in virtual ceremony
Wolfchase Galleria reopens Saturday

May 8 updates

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National Guard to mark Nurses Week with statewide flyover
Epidemiologist ‘heartened’ by reduced COVID-19 reproductive rate
Black Shelby County residents disproportionally impacted by COVID-19
Memphis Zoo announces reopening

May 7 updates

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$1.4M grant for local health centers
Beale Street starts to reopen
COVID cases continue to rise among Latino population
Free face masks available starting today

May 6 updates

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Officials say they are 'pleased' with reopening of Memphis, Shelby County so far
Christ Community to offer free, public COVID-19 testing Wednesday
County health department reports 2948 COVID-19 cases
Oak Court Mall reopening Monday
MLGW: 16 employees with COVID-19

May 5 updates

Click here to read all of the Tuesday updates

Front-line workers can get free testing, even without symptoms
County expands asymptomatic testing
FedEx hiring down amid COVID-19 despite rise in e-commerce shipments, data shows
Cohen announces grant for COVID-19 law enforcement expenses
Siemens, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Mid-South Makers collaborate on creating face shields
UofM, MCR Safety, Precision Plastics make face shields for medical workers, first responders
2,922 COVID-19 cases, 57 deaths reported in Shelby County
Memphis-area interstate blood bank collecting plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19
COVID-19 antibody tests are available, but how reliable and important are they?
Some Memphis restaurants have opened their dining rooms
Shelby County to allow hair salons, barber shops, keeps nail salons and massage businesses closed