In early March of 2020, the first case of the coronavirus was confirmed here in Shelby County.

Since that day the capacity of local government has been tested like no other time in recent history. We’ve been called on to help support the local economy, get students back into the classrooms, and respond to the pandemic.

As I reflect on this time, I could not be prouder of what this county has accomplished, the resolve that we’ve seen from our community, and the willingness of Shelby County residents to step up and do what they could to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

We’ve all made sacrifices. We’ve all done the hard work to keep our neighbors and our families safe. This has been a unified effort that was unimaginable a year and a half ago. But we did it.

Strangers began leaving food boxes and care packages on the porches of seniors in need. Neighbors began to create caravans so they could celebrate the graduations, accomplishments, and the homegoings of their friends and their loved ones. Families used video tools to remain together while staying physically apart.

And we began marking time with the tallies of our rising infection rates and available intensive care unit beds.

Thankfully, the coronavirus vaccines have helped us mark new milestones in a reassuring direction.

On June 21, we marked 50 consecutive days with fewer than 100 new coronavirus cases, a milestone that’s worthy of celebration.

We’re thrilled by that, but see no reason to let up. We intend to keep the momentum going throughout the summer and continue the course toward the next 50 days.

If we can keep this push going, we’ll hit 100 days with under 100 new cases on Tuesday, August 10, another milestone to strive for. 

As we celebrate our 50 day milestone and reach for 100, we must also acknowledge that this would not have happened without Shelby County Health Department employees, who went into to overdrive immediately after the virus invaded our county.

And no one worked harder than Health Department Deputy Director David Sweat, who last week left us for another employment opportunity closer to his family.

David pushed and prodded for us to do better, be healthier, and to hit one goal after the next. We all thank him for his dedication to public health and safety.

And we don’t intend to stop what David helped us start.

So, mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 10 when we hope to celebrate 100 days with under 100 new cases.

Then we’ll go for another 50 days and another 50 days and another 100 days, until we have done everything we can to vanquish COVID-19. 

^{Outgoing Deputy Director David Sweat Receives Proclamation from Mayor Lee Harris}

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