Live updates April 17: New COVID-19 cases on the Coast; Gulfport sets graduation plan

Mississippi’s state Health Officer Thomas Dobbs said there are 169 new coronavirus cases and 11 deaths today, putting the totals at 3,793 cases and 140 deaths statewide.

The State Department of Health reported 1 new death in Jackson County, bringing the total there to 6 and South Mississippi to 24 deaths.

Cases increased by 15 in the last day in South Mississippi to 524, following 24 new cases on Thursday, 44 on Wednesday and 35 on Tuesday.

Totals for South Mississippi are:

George — 9 (1 new)

Hancock — 50 (0 new)

Harrison — 137 (3 new)

Jackson — 196 (7 new)

Pearl River — 115 (3 new)

Stone — 17 (1 new)

The report broke down the number of cases by race. Of the 524 people who tested positive for coronavirus in the six counties of South Mississippi, 269 were white, 201 were black, 32 were other races and 22 are under investigation.

Throughout the state’s 3,793 cases, 2,005 are black, 1,270 are white, 283 are other races and 235 are being investigated.

2:36 p.m.

By far the biggest increase in deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. was reported today by the Centers for Disease Control.

The report shows 6,037 additional deaths nationwide in the last day. The previous single day increase was 3,154 deaths on April 7. Total deaths in the U.S. are 33,049.

There now are 661,712 confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus, an increase of 29,164.

2:30 p.m.

In response to Gov. Tate Reeve’s executive order that would allow beaches to open Monday, the Jackson County Board of Supervisors will discuss public access to the beaches during the April 20 board meeting. It will be broadcast live beginning at 9 a.m. on the county’s Facebook page.

Hancock County’s beaches will remain closed through 8 a.m. Monday and the supervisors will consider whether to continue the closure at its regular board meeting at 9 a.m. Monday.

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks will re-open state lakes and state park lakes to fishing and boating at 8 a.m. Monday. Bank fishing will be allowed with social distancing requirements of 6 feet. Fishing piers will remain closed.

11:00 a.m.

Gulfport School District announced plans for graduation. Each senior and up to four parents or legal guardians will report at a scheduled time to Ray Bishop Auditorium from May 11-15. Every student will have a picture taken in cap and gown and walk across the stage to collect their diploma.

Valedictorian and other speeches will be taped and a video will be assembled and the ceremony aired on AdmiralNation.com at 7 p.m. May 27, which was the original graduation date.

9 a.m.

Gov. Tate Reeves announced today he is extending the shelter-in-place order in Mississippi for another week. The new order begins Monday and runs through April 27.

8 a.m.

Another 7,406 people in the six counties of South Mississippi filed first-time unemployment claims for the week ending April 11.

That brings the total in South Mississippi since March 28 to 24,233 out of work.

These are the total new unemployment claims in the last three weeks:

George — 585

Hancock — 1,958

Harrison — 12,862

Jackson — 7,201

Pearl River — 1,135

Stone — 492

7:10 a.m.

Two more employees at Ingalls Shipbuilding have tested positive for coronavirus, an employee at LHA 8, who last worked April 8 and an employee at CSA 3, who last worked April 15. The total now is 19, with 8 recovered and eligible to return to work.

7 a.m.

Six more positive cases of coronavirus were reported by Singing River Health System, bringing the total to 178 out of the 1,758 tests performed to date. Of the 178 COVID-positive patients, 161 are recovering at home 10 remain hospitalized, and 7 have died.

“Right now, we are keeping an eye to our East,” said CEO Lee Bond. “It appears Mobile County is growing in the number of cases — something to be aware of.“

Highlights from Thursday:

▪ The MSDH reported 3,624 COVID-19 cases cases and 129 deaths. South Mississippi has 509 cases and, for the fourth straight day, 23 deaths.

▪ The CDC reported a total of 632,548 cases and 27,012 deaths.

▪ U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., was named as a member of President Donald Trump’s task force on economic recovery.

▪ Long Beach joined Gulfport in indefinitely extending an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.

This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 2:21 PM.