Live updates on March 26: Mississippi has 108 new coronavirus cases, 14 on the Coast, 1 new death
7 p.m.
Singing River Health System says for the first day it saw a decline in the number of COVID-19 tests ordered and calls to the hotline. Wednesday saw the most tests submitted in a single day so far, 81.
There was one positive test today, bringing their total to 25.
6 p.m.
▪ The Air Force has announced it will test Biloxi’s Keesler Air Force Base as an alternate site for basic training during the pandemic.
▪ The Mississippi Legislature will delay reconvening the Legislative session beyond Wednesday, April 1. A new date has not yet been set.
▪ Harrison County School District is offering certified social workers to be available by phone for families in the district that are struggling with anxiety or stress.
▪ Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson encourages the public to consider local farmers as a source of produce, meats, dairy, honey, eggs and other food products. GenuineMS.com as an online source to locate farmers that sell direct to the public.
“Some farmers that sell to restaurants are finding themselves with an extra supply and are finding ways to sell direct to consumers as restaurants are being significantly impacted at this time,” he said in a press release. “The food is healthy, delicious, local and affordable and these markets are taking steps to comply with CDC recommendations.”
3:30 p.m.
February was the best for Coast tourism of any February in the past 5 years, Milton Segarra, CEO of Coastal Mississippi said during a call-in board meeting today. “Obviously Coronavirus has interrupted all that,” he said. March 14, when St. Patrick’s Day, college spring break and March Madness were expected to draw crowds to the Coast, instead saw the total interruption of tourism business, he said.
The tourism promotion agency has suspended its advertising through the end of May and Segarra asked visitors, “If you had plans to visit us, don’t cancel — just postpone.”
3:10 p.m.
Jackson County Board of supervisors will hold an emergency meeting at 10 a.m. Friday to consider hiring constables to monitor beaches and other public places and other matters. Tomorrow’s meeting will be broadcast on the county’s Facebook page. The meeting agenda can be found here.
12:25 p.m.
Coronavirus deaths across the United States are just shy of 10,000 today, and the one-day increase of cases and deaths is the highest to date.
The Center for Disease Control reported today 994 deaths from the coronavirus. Cases rose to 68,440. That’s an increase of 13,987 compared to 10,270 more cases on Wednesday. On March 23 the increase was 18,184, but those numbers included both Saturday and Sunday, when the CDC did not update its report.
The death rate from the virus rose by 257 on Thursday compared to an increase of 193 on Wednesday and 144 on Tuesday.
11:50 a.m.
Mississippi Department of Education has suspended certain requirements so that seniors can graduate despite the coronavirus school closures.
Among them are:
▪ Current seniors who meet all district and state requirements may graduate this school year. End-of-course assessments in Algebra I, English II, Biology and U.S. History are suspended for seniors. Students are required to earn a minimum of 24 Carnegie units to graduate.
▪ Local school boards have the authority to suspend or amend their graduation policies, provided the policies continue to meet state standards.
▪ Students in grades 7-12 enrolled in Algebra I, Biology, English II or U. S. History will not be required to take end-of-course subject area tests to meet graduation requirements.
▪ Current third graders will be promoted to fourth grade if the student meets all other district requirements for promotion.
11:30 a.m.
Coming with all too much frequency now, the state Health Department announces another death in Mississippi.
A Rankin County man age 80-85 died while in the hospital. The report said the man had underlying conditions.
He is the sixth coronavirus death reported in Mississippi. The others were from Hancock, Holmes, Tunica, Webster and Wilkinson counties.
The Health Department said it now will report deaths with the daily count of cases rather than in an individual report.
10:58 a.m.
Mississippi Health Department says expanded testing statewide is identifying more cases of coronavirus in the state.
Through March 24, more women (59%) than men (41%) have tested positive. Less than a third (31%) are hospitalized. The age breakdown is:
- 6 under age 18
- 55 age 18-29
- 50 age 30-39
- 64 age 40-49
- 58 age 50-59
- 69 age 60-69
- 74 age 70+
10:30 a.m.
Memorial Hospital at Gulfport is seeking donations for health care workers. Needed are N-95 medical grade surgical masks, disposable latex gloves, hand sanitizer, safety goggles or glasses, full face shields and gowns.
Those who can help are asked to call 228-223-0922 or email foundation@mhg.com.
10:05 a.m.
Mississippi has 108 new cases of COVID-19 today, the state health department just reported, with 14 new cases on the Coast.
This report follows a bleak Wednesday, when 4 more deaths from the coronavirus were announced, bringing the total to 5. The first death was a Hancock County man.
The Coast now has 70 cases and the state has 485.
New cases in South Mississippi today are 6 more in Harrison County, 4 more in Jackson County, 3 more in Pearl River County and 1 more in Hancock County. The more rural George County still has 1 case and none have been reported in Stone County.
The total in the 6 lower counties are:
- George County — 1
- Hancock County — 6
- Harrison County — 31
- Jackson County — 16
- Pearl River County — 16
- Stone County — 0
DeSoto County has the most cases in the state with 49, followed with Hinds County at 43 and Harrison County with 31.
9:10 a.m.
Jackson County School District Superintendent John Strycker said in a press release the district plans to hold some form on high school graduation.
“A possible ceremony we are considering is holding the graduation at each attendance center’s football stadium scheduling 10 students at a time with plenty of ‘social distancing space’ for those in attendance,” he said Strycker.
8:30 a.m.
Pearl River Community College students return from extended spring break Monday, moving to online classes. The college already had more than 2,000 students enrolled in online classes.
The more than 800 dorm students are being allowed in the dorms a few at a time to get their belongings. “It would be easy for us to just say ‘dorms are completely closed,’” said college President Adam Breerwood. “But we are trying to assist anyone that is in a difficult situation. If there is a need for a student to live in college housing they will be considered on a case-by-case basis.”
6 a.m.
People in South Mississippi woke to news that the Senate last night passed a $2.2 trillion coronavirus economic aid package.
Wednesday was a tough day in Mississippi with 4 more deaths announced by the state Health Department.
Highlights from Wednesday:
▪ Mississippi has 57 new cases of coronavirus and 4 additional deaths, according to today’s reports from the Mississippi Sate Department of Health, with 3 new cases on the Coast.
That brings the total state cases to 377, up from 320 on Tuesday and 249 on Monday and 5 deaths. The total on the Coast is 56 cases and 1 death.
Nationwide there are 54,453 cases and 737 deaths from the virus.
▪ Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi reported its first three cases of coronavirus and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula reported a second case.
▪ The high rate or coronavirus in the New Orleans area has residents escaping to their second homes in Hancock County.
▪ Waffle House restaurants are known for staying open as long as possible during a disaster. Now some locations in South Mississippi are closing due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 10:19 AM.
