In yesterday’s city/county COVID-19 task force press conference, Health Department director Dr. Haushalter said that COVID-19 testing capacity is at a good level, but tests are being under-utilized. She encouraged anyone showing symptoms, no matter how mild, to get tested, as well as anyone who has come in contact with a person who has the virus. However, Haushalter added a third group: protesters. She recommends that anyone who has participated in a protest come in for a test 5 to 7 days after the date of participation.
Haushalter also confirmed what county mayor Harris announced yesterday: Barring the unforeseen, we will move to Phase 3 of the Back-to-Business plan next Monday, June 15. However, she advised that if businesses can show the health department that they have a sound social distancing and masking plan, they will allow those businesses into Phase 3 early.
192 new cases were reported yesterday, but a lot of that is due to surge testing at correctional facilities and nursing homes. The positive rate was only 6.6%.
The City Council may hold a special meeting as early as Friday to vote on an ordinance requiring Memphians to wear masks when out in public. Council attorney Allan Wade says the city’s charter is worded in such a way that the city has a duty to prevent public nuisances, and that an infectious disease qualifies as such a nuisance (remember, the city’s charter was rewritten post-yellow fever). Wade is willing to take the fight to court if he has to.
The Fourth Cup is back for the season (and we hear they have snow cones 😱!) New hours are 11 AM – 7 PM Thursday through Sunday.
Located in River Garden at the corner of Riverside and Jefferson for all your park visit snacks, drinks, and sweets. pic.twitter.com/3Lkhlv63HE
— Memphis River Parks Partnership (@MemRiverParks) June 9, 2020
A new company called 901 Smugglers is partnering with local liquor stores to bring home liquor delivery to Downtown Memphis. Their app is coming to iOS on July 1. They will be able to deliver liquor to your Downtown address (of course, you must be 21 or older) within a 2-hour window or you can order in advance.
City Tasting Tours announced in its recent newsletter that Patio Tasting Tours will begin July 1. Obviously the rules will be somewhat different since COVID-19 has stuck around.
If you’re laid off due to COVID-19, you can get affordable health care at Church Health Center. Normally the requirement is that you must be working at least 20 hours a week in a business that does not provide health insurance, but the Center recognizes that many people are not working right now through no fault of their own.
CNN has a look at a city that disbanded its police department, Camden, NJ, seven years ago, and what has happened since. This is especially cool: On an officer’s first day on the new, re-thought police force, he or she is required to knock on residents’ doors, introduce themselves, and ask what needs improving.
Another story from CNN: The data showing that American police shoot, kill, and imprison more people than other Western countries
The owner of McEwen’s has filed a permit to renovate the buildings immediately to the restaurant’s west at 118-124 Monroe, formerly known as 124 Newsroom the last time it was open to the public years ago. Another restaurant and apartments are planned for the space.
That’s it for now. Check back mid-afternoon for my thoughts on the BuildDowntown proposal that will shape Downtown over the next two decades.