3 coronavirus cases reported in Coast counties. Here’s what we know.

The number of cases of new coronavirus in Mississippi rose from 12 on Monday to 21 on Tuesday, with cases reported in all three Coast counties, according to the State Department of Health.

The numbers reported Tuesday morning said Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties each had 1 case.

However, the first two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Harrison County were announced Tuesday morning by Memorial Hospital at Gulfport.

Singing River Health System checked with the Health Department on the official numbers. SRHS spokeswoman Sarah Duffey said the Jackson County case is confirmed to be from a Memorial Clinic located in Ocean Springs. She said Singing River hospitals have had 21 negative tests and are waiting on the results of 10 more tests today.

Memorial Hospital CEO Kent Nicaud announced that the tests were performed at the health department laboratory, and both cases were confirmed to be coronavirus (COVID-19), making them the first in Harrison County to be identified.

The hospital didn’t provide any age or sex for the patients, but said in a press release the individuals are isolated but not hospitalized, and are at home recovering. The hospital is in contact with the patients.

Neither of the cases were inpatients at the Memorial or Stone County campuses, he said.

“The patients felt ill and sought treatment early, which we have educated the community to do,” Nicaud said. “They visited our clinics, where our staff followed the CDC guidelines for suspected COVID-19 patients by isolating each quickly, taking samples safely and working with our state agencies for a diagnosis. The process worked.”

Nicaud said more COVID-19 cases are expected in South Mississippi.

“We encourage others that are experiencing any symptoms, such as fever or cough, to seek medical treatment so we can minimize and help stop the spread of this illness,” he said.

Mississippi reported 12 cases as of Monday, March 16, with 1 case in Hancock County and 2 in Pearl River County.

The cases added Tuesday are 1 in Harrison County, 1 in Jackson County, 4 in Hinds County and 3 in Leflore County.

The number of people tested in Mississippi is now 389.

The Sun Herald will update this article.Forrest County, where the first case was reported on March 11, has 3 cases, which is the most for any county in the state.

This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 8:47 AM.