October on pace to set new monthly high of COVID-19 cases in Dyer County
BRANDON HUTCHESON
Since the calendar has turned to October, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Dyer County has continued to climb, resulting in record-high new single-day cases. Once the most recent numbers from the Tennessee Department of Health (THD) were released on Friday afternoon, Dyer County was shown to be only 16 new COVID-19 cases away from setting a record for the most cases in a single month – and as of Saturday, there are two weeks left in the month.
The TDH, as of Friday, Oct. 16, reported Dyer County as having a total of 1,881 COVID-19 cases, which consist of confirmed and probable cases. Additionally, their report noted the county as having 313 active cases, 1,544 recoveries/inactive cases, and 24 deaths.
In a comparison of the numbers released on Friday to those from one month ago, Sept. 16, 2020, the results are as follows:
• Total Cases:
Sept. 16 – 1,185
Oct. 16 – 1,881 (up 696)
• Active Cases:
Sept. 16 – 147
Oct. 16 – 313 (up 166)
• Recoveries/Inactive:
Sept. 16 – 1,025
Oct. 16 – 1,544 (up 515)
• Deaths:
Sept. 16 – 13
Oct. 16 – 24 (up 11)
In the chart, created by Dr. Eric Ellerbrook of Dyersburg Middle School, it lists the percentage of COVID-19 cases by month. Using numbers that were last updated by the TDH on Thursday, Oct. 15, the chart shows October as having the second-most COVID-19 cases with a total percentage of 23.7 percent, or 444 total cases. With the numbers released Friday afternoon, the total case count for October has risen to 451.
As of Saturday morning, Oct. 17, September had the most total COVID-19 cases with 466. With 14 days left in October, the month is only 16 new cases away from taking the top spot away from September.
The Tennessee Department of Health provides daily COVID-19 updates online at www.tn.gov/health at 2 p.m. The COVID-19 Public Information Numbers, 877-857-2945 or 833-556-2476, are available from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.