Live updates for March 23: Ten new coronavirus cases in South Mississippi
8:31 p.m.
Two Hancock County road crews were sent home on Monday after the wife of one of the employees tested positive for coronavirus.
County Administrator Eddie Favre described the situation during Monday night’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors.
“We had an incident with the road crew, actually all of the outside crews,” Favre said. “One of the workers, his wife tested positive. He was not in contact with not just his co-worker that he rides with, but he was in contact with basically the entire crew. As of today at noon time, (Road Administrator Vic Johnson) sent his crews home.
“His crew went home with the idea of staying home for that 10-day period if any of the symptoms come out.”
Favre said that there are two crews involved, totaling about 60 people.
Also, Hancock County sheriff Ricky Adam went before the board Monday night to ask that $75,000 be set aside to pay for the extra hours put in by his employees over the current pay period.
“This modified scale will cost $75,000 a pay period,”Adam said. “We suspect it goes pay period to pay period, and not let it go on indefinitely.”
Members of the board plan to take up the measure later on this week in another meeting that is still to be determined.
7 p.m.
▪ The Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center will close until April 15. “After this date, Coliseum officials will assess the situation and a decision will be made if this date will be extended,” a press release said.
▪ D’Iberville offers grocery shopping tips:
- Shop alone
- Don’t over-shop. Deliveries are received everyday and shelves are restocked throughout the day, not just overnight.
- Wipe carts with sanitizer before using and return them to the store when finished.
- Distance yourself 6 feet from the customer in front of you when shopping and when checking out.
- Utilize online services: curbside pickup, deliveries, drive thru.
▪ The Mississippi Department of Education has compiled a host of learning-at-home resources for students in pre-K through grade 12. The resources are available online at www.mdek12.org/LearningAtHome.
▪ Mississippi Public Broadcasting has launched a website called MPB At-Home Learning that offers resources for parents, children and educators.
▪ To file an unemployment claim, visit the Department of Employment Security website at www.mdes.ms.gov or call the MDES Contact Center at 1-888-844-3577.
3:39 p.m.
Stone County became the latest in South Mississippi to close its restaurants to dine-in service during a Monday morning meeting of the Board of Supervisors.
The restaurants included are those in the unincorporated areas of the county. Restaurants may only provide take-out or delivery service.
Also closing to the public will be community centers, civic centers, fairgrounds and all ball fields.
All Stone County employees, except essential employees, are placed on administrative leave through April 6.
3:35 p.m.
“Yes, we’re going to delay when individual income taxes are due,” Gov. Tate Reeves said. He expects it to be delayed by at least a month, he said. Those who can pay by April 15 are asked to do so, he said, to help the state cash flow.
The federal government extended the tax deadline from April 15 to July 15.
The deadline for filing for homestead exemption in Mississippi also could be pushed out by a month until May 1, he said, although dates are very fluid.
3:27 p.m.
Even those states that have directed residents to stay at home say they have no way to enforce those orders, he said.
For those who think the best step is to shut down the state, he said, “Put yourself on individual lock down.”
Reeves said, “We need you to stay at home if you can,” and go to work only if it is essential. He said there will be more executive orders to clarify what is essential.
“Mississippians step up and do what’s right in challenging times,” said Gov. Tate Reeves.
3:10 p.m.
Gov. Tate Reeves says on Facebook Live that Mississippi isn’t going to make any “rash decisions” to shut down the state or require that residents shelter-in-place just because other states have done so.
He said the Mississippi Health Department hasn’t made that recommendation and said he doesn’t want to make any decisions that would do more harm than good.
At this time there is no plan to shut down preschools or day cares, he said, because people who are working need childcare.
He said 124 school districts are operating lunch programs.
2:35 p.m.
Testing centers for the coronavirus are being activated across the Coast today at walk-in clinics and other medical centers. Here’s the list. Only those who show symptoms of the virus — a temperature of 100.4 degrees or more, a persistent cough or chest pains — will be tested.
12:47 p.m.
A pair of City of Pascagoula offices will be closed for the next two weeks after employees in both offices showed symptoms of COVID-19, according to the city’s website.
The Utilities Department and the Planning and Building Department have both shut their doors as precautionary measures.
The Utilities Department will still be accessible by phone at (228) 938-6633. To reach the Planning and Building Department, call (228) 938-6620 or you can bring your questions to city hall at (228) 762-1020.
Residents are asked to use the night drop in front of the Utilities Department to make bill payments. Check or money order are the preferred forms of payment. Bills can also be paid online at cityofpascagoula.com.
12:24 p.m.
While Harrison County’s beaches remain open during the new coronavirus outbreak, Pascagoula announced on Monday that it has decided to close its beach.
The decision to close the beach is part of a move by the city to shut down all Pascagoula parks.
Pedestrians will still be allowed to walk on the sidewalk next to the beach.
Harrison County asks that gatherings be limited to 10 or fewer people on beaches.
11:55 p.m.
Since Friday the number of cases of coronavirus in the U.S. have nearly doubled.
After not reporting since Friday, the Center for Disease Control said today the number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. has soared to 33,403 with 400 deaths.
The totals on Friday were 15,219 cases and 201 deaths.
8:59 a.m.
Mississippi has 42 new cases of the new coronavirus today, according to the report from the State Department of Health.
There now are 249 cases in the state and 1 death, with 45 of the cases in South Mississippi. A week ago, on March 16, there were 12 cases in Mississippi.
The totals for the six Coast counties are:
- George County — 1
- Harrison County — 21
- Hancock County — 4, with 1 death
- Jackson County — 7
- Pearl River County — 12
There are 6 new cases in Harrison County and 2 new cases each in Jackson County and Pearl River County.
Stone County still has no reported cases.
The health department has begun providing ages and other details about coronavirus cases. The initial report through March 20 shows:
▪ 66% of those who tested positive are women; 34% men
▪ 24% were hospitalized; 67% were not hospitalized, 8% were unknown
The breakdown in ages is:
- 18 and under — 3
- 18-29 — 24
- 30-39 — 13
- 40-49 — 27
- 50-59 — 18
- 60-69 — 26
- 70+ — 26
https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,420.html#Mississippi
This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 9:19 AM.
