Shelby County’s ‘Back to Business’ plan could transition into its second phase as early as Monday, but health officials say it’s too soon to measure the impact of phase one’s loosened restrictions.
The framework for reopening is designed in 14-day increments. Health experts say two weeks is the length of time needed to get an accurate picture of how coronavirus is spreading in the community.
“Between now and Monday, we’ll be looking at data very closely,” Health Department Director Dr. Alisa Haushalter said at Thursday’s press briefing. “We’ll be looking at a trend line which looks at those cases 14 days prior, and the exponential growth or decrease in those cases.”
Before Haushalter gives the Health Department’s green light for county leaders to reopen more businesses, she’s also looking for assurance that recent hospitalizations remain manageable.
“It’s not black and white,” she said. “We do have to look at all those things and ultimately determine can we meet the needs of everyone in Shelby County in the event that we have a surge [in cases] or reoccurance.”
Some of that pressure should be relieved next week, when an overflow field hospital at the old Commercial Appeal building on Union is expected to be operational. The facility will only be used should area hospitals reach capacity.