Live updates April 21: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance now available in Mississippi

For the fourth straight day there are no new COVID-19 deaths reported in South Mississippi, and also on Tuesday 10 new cases were reported.

Mississippi State Department of Health reported today 204 new cases in the state and 14 additional deaths. That is a drop in increased cases from 238 on Monday and an increase in deaths from Monday’s 10.

Totals are 4,716 cases and 183 deaths across the state.

South Mississippi has 578 cases and 27 deaths, with 10 deaths in Pearl River County, 6 in Jackson County, 5 in Harrison and Hancock counties and 1 in George county.

Totals in South Mississippi are:

George — 10 (0 new)

Hancock — 53 (0 new)

Harrison — 151 (6 new)

Jackson — 211 (2 new)

Pearl River — 132 (2 new)

Stone — 19 (0 new)

The Centers for Disease Control announced 29,468 new cases and 2,675 additional deaths in the past day. On Monday there were 25,995 new cases and 1,881 deaths reported.

Totals now are 776,093 cases and 41,758 deaths in the U.S.

3:58 p.m.

Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday that he plans to take his time as he reboots the state’s economy in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our reopening strategy will be continuous, but slow,” he said during a press conference. “We’ll be opening up business sectors and regions of the state based on data and the advice of public health experts. We will have rules that people will continue to follow. We will ease into it. We will not rush into it, but understand that we have to start heading in that direction. We have to do something.

Some are somewhat comfortable (during the pandemic.) Some have Netflix and delivery food. Others are in deeply painful situations. Thousands of Mississippians have filed for unemployment.”

Reeves pulled back some of the guidelines of his shelter-in-place order on April 17, opening Coast beaches and state lakes. Other businesses can start retail sales through curbside pickup and deliver.

3:40 p.m.

Mississippians who are self-employed and were previously unable to receive unemployment benefits can now apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security announced on Tuesday.

Self-employed people, gig economy workers, independent contracts, people employed by a church or religious organization and employees of non-profit organizations are among those who may now be eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Also, if you previously had insufficient funds to file an unemployment claim, you may also be eligible.

“Thousands of Mississippians have filed for unemployment,” Gov. Tate Reeves said on Tuesday during a press conference. “Many have never been on unemployment insurance and they’re frustrated because navigating the system can be frustrating. We’ve made progress on that and we continue to do so. We want to give a lifeline to those who are unable to work.”

The Mississippi Department of Employment security provided a list of qualifications that allow people to receive PUA assistance:

▪ You have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and are seeking a medical diagnosis.

▪ You became the major supporter for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of COVID-19.

▪ You quit your job as a direct result of COVID-19

▪ Your place of employment is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

▪ You have a member of you household that has been diagnosed with COVID-19

▪ You are providing care for a member of the household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

▪ You have a child or other person in the household you support who is unable to attend school or another facility closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

▪ You are unable to reach a place of employment because of a quarantine imposed due to COVID-19.

▪ You were scheduled to start a job and were unable to reach the place of employment due to COVID-19.

▪ You can’t to reach a place of employment because you have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine.

Mississippians can apply online at www.mdes.ms.gov or by calling toll-free 1-833-919-0334 from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.

1:30 p.m.

Interactive data from the Centers for Disease Control shows Mississippi is 25th for number of coronavirus cases in the country and 25th for states with new cases in the last week.

In comparison New York state has the most cases at 238,138 with 1,219 cases per 100,000 people and 17,027 deaths. Mississippi is in the middle at 4,512 cases with 151 cases per 100,000 and 169 deaths. Alaska has the least cases of any state at 319 cases with 43 cases per 100,000 and 9 deaths.

1:25 p.m.

Mississippi Department of Employment Security reports 15,212 new unemployment claims were made in February by those who live in the six counties of South Mississippi. This compares to 386 new claims in February.

1 p.m.

Three more cases of coronavirus were reported today by Ingalls Shipbuilding, bringing the total of positives to 26. All three employees worked at LPD 28, and all three last worked at the Pascagoula shipyard on April 17.

8 a.m.

Biloxi reports that in the five weeks since the pandemic began shutting down local businesses, the city’s Community Development Department has issued $6.57 million in construction permits March 16 through April 20.

Community Development Director Jerry Creel says the majority of this construction was 32 new homes for $4.98 million in new housing starts. The city has 160 homes under construction.

7 a.m.

Singing River Health System on Monday night reported zero new positive COVID-19 test results. Through the latter part of last week, the rolling three-day average was 8 positives per day, said CEO Lee Bond.

Highlights from Monday:

▪ Another 238 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Mississippi, and 10 more people have died. The totals now are 4,512 cases and 169 deaths in the state. The State Department of Health reports 107 of those who died are black, 61 white and 1 of another race.

In the six counties of South Mississippi, the number of deaths remains at 27 for the third day. An additional 13 cases were reported, for 568 total.

▪ Gov. Tate Reeves and State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs said the curve is flattening in Mississippi, and continuing to socially distance is key to making sure outbreaks don’t crop up in nursing homes and workplaces. “I want to make sure we don’t go into a state of complacency,” Dobbs said.

▪ The beaches in Hancock and Jackson counties will remain closed a little longer thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Harrison County beaches are open, but several are under MDEQ contact alerts for high bacteria levels following Sunday night’s heavy rain.

This story was originally published April 21, 2020 at 10:21 AM.