Live updates for March 20: Harrison County has the most coronavirus cases in Mississippi
7:30 p.m.
The City of D’Iberville held a special-called remote meeting to vote on a resolution shutting down restaurant dining rooms for two weeks, after the MSDH recommendation.
6:45 p.m.
▪ The Mississippi State Department of Health now recommends that all restaurant and bars suspend dine-in service in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19, effective immediately. Restaurants may still offer carryout or delivery orders to their customers.
“This will in no way affect gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores or food marts,” said State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs.
▪ In response to social media posts, the Mississippi National Guard wants to reassure citizens that martial law, or any other form of military control is not an option and is not being enacted.
6 p.m.
▪ MEMA wants to clarify there is no executive order from Gov. Tate Reeves to close businesses and day cares across the state. Local governments and business owners can choose whether or not to close.
▪ The state health department and Emergency Management Agency will be distributing personal protective equipment to counties across the state on Saturday. This stockpile is a combination of what the state currently has plus what Mississippi received Tuesday night from the Department of Health and Human Services’ national stockpile.
▪ The Small Business Administrations has delcared an economic disaster for Mississippi.
▪ Mississippi Department of Employment Security announced workers who are not able to work due to COVID-19 will be eligible to file for unemployment benefits at www.mdes.ms.gov.
▪ Coast Transit Authority says fares won’t be collected on fixed routes and demand response services (for health and nutritio purposes only). All fixed routes will be on 90-minute intervals. The Beachcomber and Pass Road routes will go from 45-minute intervals to 90-minute intervals. Passengers should maintain a six-foot distance. Biloxi and Gulfport transit centers are closed to the public.
▪ Gulf Islands National Seashore is closing the following parks:
- Ship Island and associated facilities
- The Davis Bayou Campground, Robert McGhee Road Picnic Area, and boat launch
- The William M. Colmer Visitor Center in the Davis Bayou Area
These areas are still open:
- The Davis Bayou Area facilities near the visitor center including the picnic area, fishing pier, restroom, and hiking trails
- Petit Bois, West Petit Bois, and Horn islands, as well as the NPS-owned portions of Cat Island
The Red Cross is asking for blood donations at the following Coast blood drives, find more at redcrossblood.org:
- 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at Saint Claire Parish in Waveland
- 1-6 p.m. Monday, March 23, outside the Edgewater Mall movie theater
- noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, outside the Edgewater Mall movie theater
3 p.m.
The first Mississippi resident to die from the coronavirus was identified as Howard Pickens, 63, of Waveland, who owned a barber shop in Bay St. Louis. He died this week at a hospital in Slidell.
The Mississippi Supreme Court issued an order to limit in-person contact in state courts through the use of electronic filings, teleconferencing and video-conferencing, ruling that all former rules and procedures that limit electronic means are temporarily suspended due to coronavirus. When in-person proceedings are necessary, such as in emergency child custody proceedings of matters involving the state Department of Child Protective Services and protection orders, they will continue. The higher court is leaving it up to local jurisdictions to decide how to proceed with their local dockets.
12:45 p.m.
The number of coronavirus cases in the United States has more than quadrupled since Monday, according to Friday’s daily update from the Center for Disease Control.
Today’s report shows 15,219 cases across the country, a one-day increase of 4,777. The total presumptive and confirmed cases on Monday was 3,487.
The CDC reports 201 deaths as of Friday, an increase of 51 since Thursday. On Monday there were 71.
Part of the rapid increase is due to faster processing of test results, medical officials say.
12:10 p.m.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College announces all courses will resume on March 30 and will be delivered online through April 17. Residence halls will be closed and students should not return to the campus during this time.
12:04 p.m.
On a positive note, AP reports The Grand Ole Opry, which has been airing Saturday nights for 94 years, will broadcast live on television this week in an empty venue. Country artists Brad Paisley, Vince Gill and Marty Stuart will perform acoustically to an empty theater. It will air on the Circle and on the Opry’s YouTube page.
11 a.m.
The Salvation Army is offering free drive-thru lunches for seniors from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Kroc Center at 575 Division Street in Biloxi.
9:50 a.m.
Waveland reports having issues with its sewer systems and lift stations. Baby wipes and Lysol wipes are locking up the lift system, the city says, and directs people to throw wipes in the trash and not flush them down the toilet.
9:15 a.m.
Mississippi has 30 new cases of coronavirus today, according to the report from the State Department of Health.
The count now stands at 80 cases in the state and 1 death.
Harrison County now has 8 cases, the most in the state. The total for the six Coast counties is 21.
The update says Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties each have one new case. The totals for the six Coast counties are:
- Harrison County — 8
- Hancock County — 3, with 1 death
- Jackson County — 3
- Pearl River County — 7
George and Stone counties have no reported cases.
The Health Department has done 775 tests.
The numbers of cases are expected to escalate as private testing facilities ramp up. While the state lists 3 cases in Jackson County as of Friday, Singing River Health System reported Thursday night it has 6 positive cases.
New equipment is allowing the private laboratories to process 4,000 tests a day, hospital officials said.
8:15 a.m.
Moss Point Mayor Mario King has ordered all businesses, which includes all child care facilities, churches, gyms, bars, parties, salons, barbershops and other businesses, shut down effective at noon Friday until April 19. Carryout and delivery orders are still accessible.
8 a.m.
About 300 free hot meals will be available today by drive-thru at Infinity Church, 4031 Popp’s Ferry Road, D’Iberville, starting at 11 a.m., while supplies last. The food is donated by the Scarlet Pearl Casino and the church and is being prepared by church members.
7 a.m.
AT&T is offering unlimited home internet data to customers, and qualified low-income households can get internet for $10 a month. Sparklight also is offering unlimited home internet for 30 days, no late fees for 60 days, and a $10-a-month plan for low-income families.
Gov. Tate Reeves is requesting a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration. All affected businesses should submit their paperwork to MEMA State Coordinating Officer, Todd Demuth at tdemuth@mema.ms.gov. Here are instructions on how to complete an “Estimated Disaster Economic Injury Worksheet for Business” and the worksheet to complete.
Highlights from Thursday
▪ The statewide count increased by 16 cases, the largest so far, to a total 50 cases with 602 people tested.
▪ The first death was a man in Hancock County.
▪ Harrison and Pearl River counties each had seven cases, the most in the state. There are still no reported cases in George and Stone counties.
▪ Gov. Tate Reeves orders all schools statewide closed until at least April 17.
▪ Movie theaters also are closed.
▪ Mississippi State Department of Health recommends all physicians and providers delay all elective surgery and invasive procedures; all physicians and patients delay non-emergency appointments; all dentists delay routine and non-emergency services.
This story will updated throughout the day. Submit your update by emailing mynews@sunherald.com
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 8:26 AM.