Live updates for March 24: Coronavirus cases in Mississippi rise to 320, 53 on the Coast

6 p.m.

The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, provides immediate crisis counseling to people affected by the coronavirus pandemic through the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

5:30 p.m.

Gov. Tate Reeves signed an executive order laying out “new guidelines:”

• Mississippians must avoid non-essential gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Suspending dine-in services at restaurants and bars across the state, instructing them to use drive-thru, take-out, or delivery services to get people food.
• Mississippians must not to visit hospitals, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities.
• Directing businesses to allow every employee possible to work from home.
• Defining essential businesses to give clear guidance to partners at the local level and ensure no essential services are closed.

He also said during a Tuesday press conference on the steps of the capitol, that all abortions in Mississippi should be canceled during the pandemic.

5 p.m.

The Bay St. Louis City Council met and discussed a decline in revenue that could continue due to the coronavirus threat. If the revenue loss remains for months, Mayor Mike Favre said the city may have to start considering job cuts. So far, any job cuts are not under consideration.

3:46 p.m.

In the latest update from Singing River Health Systems, CEO Lee Bond says the testing process is moving more quickly. As of Sunday, results from all tests were received within 48 hours, he reported. Of the 179 results received, 93 percent were negative. Eight of the 13 positive cases were identified through the medical center’s “Stop the Spread, Call Ahead” process at 5 locations, he said.

2:12 p.m.

Hancock County supervisors have closed all non-essential offices at least for the remainder of this week. The public can perform business with public officials and employees at the county website at hancockcounty.ms.gov

2 p.m.

Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich said during today’s council meeting that the city may start using city firefighters and sanitation workers to help monitor groups larger than 10 at local stores and other gathering places.

Biloxi also is looking at how the coronavirus will impact the city’s finances, especially with all casinos closed.

“Of all the municipalities around here, we’re going to take the biggest hit,” he said.

Council members said they are very concerned about the homeless in Biloxi and the teens who are running together unsupervised in groups of more than 10.

1 p.m.

The Coast Coliseum and Convention Center is closed until April 15. Executive Director Matt McDonnell says that while all but essential staff are at home, projects are under way at the facility while maintaining safe distancing. A contractor already was scheduled to replace the carpeting in the convention center, he said, and all the old carpeting was being removed Monday and Tuesday.

A rigging system will be installed while the coliseum is closed, allowing for bigger shows. It would have taken two days to hang the rigging for the KISS concert, he said. Now that it is postponed until Oct. 6, the new equipment will reduce it to one day.

12:30 p.m.

Twenty health centers across Mississippi will receive $1.4 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help pay for screening, testing and medical supplies and to boost their tele-health capacity to fight the coronavirus.

112:20 p.m.

Another 144 people have died from the coronavirus across the U.S., according to today’s report from the Center for Disease Control.

That brings the total deaths in the U.S. to 544.

Total cases rose by 10,780 since Monday, as more testing centers continue to open across the county and the virus spreads. There now are 44,183 cases in the U.S.

Nearly half are in New York State, which reports 21,689 cases.

1:40 a.m.

Gov. Tate Reeves just completed a press conference on the coronavirus.

Among the new information is:

▪ The state has waived the 1-week waiting period requirement for unemployment and the requirement that a resident must be looking for work while unemployed.

▪ He is not aware of any case of the coronavirus in the state prison system, and said there have not been any decisions to let any inmates out of prison at this time.’

▪ It’s too early to say if schools will be able to resume this year, he said.

10:10 a.m.

Mississippi has 71 new cases of coronavirus, according to today’s report from the state Health Department, with 12 new cases on the Coast.

That brings the total cases to 320, up from 249 on Monday.

Stone County still has no reported cases, while the number doubled in one day in Jackson County, from 5 to 10, partly because of better testing methods.

There is 1 new case in Hancock County today, 3 new cases in Harrison County and Pearl River County and 5 new cases in Jackson County.

The totals for the six Coast counties now stand at:

• George County — 1
• Harrison County — 24
  
  
• Hancock County — 5, with 1 death
• Jackson County — 10
• Pearl River County — 13
• Stone County — 0

The first case in Mississippi was reported less than 2 weeks ago on March 11, and Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency in Mississippi on March 14.

7:15 a.m.

It’s Great American Takeout Day, and South Mississippi’s restaurants need our help, says Coastal Mississippi. Those who are tired of their own cooking and want to do something to help local restaurants are asked to order takeout or delivery today.

7 a.m.

All city offices are closed in Diamondhead and all city employees are on administrative leave. Those with police emergencies should dial 911. For non-emergencies, the police dispatch is 228-255-9191. For other city emergencies call 228-222-4626, Ext 1800.

Highlights from Monday:

▪ Mississippi had 42 new cases of the coronavirus Monday, 10 of which are in Harrison, Jackson and Pearl River counties, according to the report from the State Department of Health.

▪ Gov. Tate Reeves said 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.

▪ Testing centers for the coronavirus are being activated across the Coast 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.

▪ D’Iberville offers grocery shopping tips:

• Shop alone
• Don’t over-shop. Deliveries are received every day 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 state Department of Education has compiled a host of learning-at-home resources for students in pre-K through grade 12 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.

▪ Two City of Pascagoula offices will be closed for the next two weeks after employees showed symptoms of COVID-19: Utilities Department and Planning and Building Department. 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.

▪ While Harrison County’s beaches remain open, Pascagoula has decided to close its beach. The city is closing all public parks. Pedestrians will still be allowed to walk on the sidewalk next to the beach.

This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 10:25 AM.