Timeline: Tracking every coronavirus case on the Mississippi Coast in March
It’s been three weeks since Mississippi had it’s first official case of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
Since then, a lot has happened.
Casinos have temporarily closed. Restaurants have shut down dining rooms. Grocery stories are trying to keep up with demand for cleaning supply, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and essential foods.
All eyes have been on Governor Tate Reeves as he decides if or when he’ll implement shelter-in-place orders to help flatten the curve.
Here’s a look at key coronavirus news that happened on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in March.
Timeline for COVID-19 South Mississippi
March 11 — First Mississippi case of coronavirus reported in Hattiesburg’s Forrest County.
March 12 — 1 case. Most events being canceled.
March 13 — 1 case, the first in the lower six Coast counties, is reported in Pearl River County.
March 16 — 3 cases on the Coast, 2 in Pearl River County, 1 in Hancock. Mississippi Gaming Commission announces all casinos will close at midnight.
March 17 — 5 cases on the Coast, now in all 3 coastal counties
March 18 — 11 cases on the Coast, one week in, with 2 in Hancock County and 4 each in Harrison and Pearl River counties. The first person on the Coast known to be hospitalized is admitted to Merit Health Biloxi.
March 19 — 18 cases on the Coast. First death in Mississippi was Howard Pickens, 63, from Waveland. He owned a barber shop in Bay St. Louis and died in a Slidell hospital. All schools closed until April 17.
March 20 — 21 cases. Harrison County has most in the state with 15
March 21 — 29 cases. George County gets its first case.
March 22 — 35 cases. Coast law enforcement preparing to ask for 2 week, 24-hour curfew.
March 23 — 41 cases
March 24 — 53 cases. Reeves signs executive order that among other things prohibits visits to hospitals, nursing homes or long-term care facilities.
March 25 — 56 cases. Four more deaths reported across the state. Two weeks since first case there are 25 cases in Harrison County, 13 in Pearl River County, 12 in Jackson County, 5 in Hancock County, 1 in George County and none in Stone County.
March 26 — 70 cases. Mississippi Department of Education suspended certain requirements so that seniors can graduate.
March 27 — 86 cases. Second death on the Coast is a person from Harrison County. The state Health Department stops announcing each death in a press release and begins adding total to the daily report.
March 28 — 104 cases. Moss Point Mayor Mario King orders nightly curfew from 11 p.m.-6 a.m.
March 29 — 122 cases. Shortage of blood prompts blood drives across the Coast.
March 30 — 128 cases. Keesler Air Force Base prepares to receive its first 460 new recruits.
March 31 — 134 cases. 45 in Harrison, 40 in Jackson County, 30 in Pearl River, 16 in Hancock, 3 in George. 0 in Stone. Coast cities adopt nightly curfews and stricter regulations to slow the spread of coronavirus,
MS Deaths reported from coronavirus
March 19 — Hancock County man, Howard Pickens, 63, from Waveland, with underlying conditions
March 25 — Holmes County man age 60-65, with underlying conditions
March 25 — Webster County man age 65-70, with underlying conditions
March 25 — Wilkinson County man age 85-90, with underlying conditions
March 25 — Tunica County woman age 75-80, in long-term care facility
March 26 — Rankin County man age 80-85 with underlying conditions. He died while hospitalized
March 27 — 2 new deaths. Harrison County resident and Tippah County resident. The health department starts listings deaths in daily report rather than in a press release.
March 28 —5 new deaths
March 29 — 1 new death
March 30 — 2 new deaths
March 31 — 4 new deaths
Statistics
According to the Mississippi Health Department:
▪ 24% of those with coronavirus were hospitalized on March 21, growing to 31% by March 31
▪ 66% women and 34% men had coronavirus on March 20. That changed to 58% women and 42% men by March 31
▪ Those in age group 40-49 had the most cases of any age on March 20 (27) and the most on March 31 (208)
▪ Those age 70+ had the most deaths (13) in by March 31.
