Live updates April 28: South Mississippi has 22 new cases, with 248 across the state
After just 4 new coronavirus cases were reported Monday in South Mississippi, the numbers rebounded Tuesday with 22 cases and an additional death.
Mississippi State Department of Health today reported 248 new cases of coronavirus and 10 additional deaths statewide, bringing the total to 6,342 cases and 239 deaths.
The highest single-day number of cases reported in the state was 300 on April 19.
The Health Department said 42 of the 248 new cases today are in long-term care facilities. Jackson County has had 39 cases in nursing homes, followed by 39 in Pearl River County, 7 in Hancock County and 1 in Harrison County.
A death was reported in Pearl River County, pushing the total there to 15, which is by far the largest number of deaths in South Mississippi. Harrison and Jackson counties have 6 deaths, Hancock County has 5 and George County 1.
Twelve of the 22 new cases were in Jackson County, which has the highest total cases in South Mississippi. Seven new cases were in Harrison County. There now are 667 cases and 33 deaths in South Mississippi.
Total cases for South Mississippi are:
- George — 12 (1 new)
- Hancock — 61 (1 new)
- Harrison — 166 (7 new)
- Jackson — 252 (12 new)
- Pearl River — 154 (1 new)
- Stone — 22 (0 new)
Nationwide there were 23,371 new cases, down for the second straight day, and 1,336 additional deaths reported Tuesday. Totals across the U.S. are 981,246 cases and 55,258 deaths.
5:14 p.m.
Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday the state will hire a third party to help make sure that COVID-19 relief funding provided by the CARES Act will be distributed fairly.
“We want to make sure the federal emergency money gets in the right hands,” he said.
Mississippi received $1.25 billion through the act, according to Reeves, and he has a healthy list of causes to put those funds toward.
▪ Education, including the purchase of laptops that could be used at home by students.
▪ Some of the money could go to businesses like barbers and salons that have remained closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
▪ Training for people who are out of work and may have a hard time finding a new job.
▪ Support for hospitals and health care workers.
Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith will be at Reeves’ daily briefing to discuss the impact of the CARES act on Wednesday.
1:15 p.m.
A temporary Memorial Physician COVID-19 screening and testing site will be set up Monday at First Missionary Baptist Church in Pass Christian.
Testing at the church, which is located at 250 Clark Ave., will run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
People are urged to visit the temporary site if they have been experiencing flu-like symptoms, body aches, fever, coughing, sneezing, chills or shortness of breath.
People are asked to stay in their vehicles and wait for assistance and social distancing will be observed. Memorial will seek reimbursement from people who have insurance, but no out-of-pocket expense or co-pay is expected at the time of service.
Those without insurance are asked to work with the clinical staff to review options.
8 a.m.
Due to the coronavirus, Hancock County Relay For Life Luminaria Drive-by Celebration will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday. Coleman Avenue will be lined with decorative luminaria bags, purple ribbons and cancer education signs to honor survivors and caregivers. People can drive by the displays in the safety of their vehicles, street legal golf carts or by bike.
7:30 a.m.
Feed My Sheep is hosting a mobile COVID-19 testing unit from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Coastal Family Health, 2615 19th St., Gulfport, to provide free COVID-19 testing to our clients.
Feed My Sheep has been serving nearly 600 meals each day with about 40% of regular level of staffing and volunteers and added hand-washing stations and to-go service.
7 a.m.
Singing River Health Systems reports 4 more positive test results, bringing total to date to 210 positives out of 2,399 tests.
Monday highlights
▪ The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 183 new cases of coronavirus, 42 of them in long-term care facilities, on Monday. Two additional deaths were reported. The state now has 6,094 cases and 229 deaths, with 2 additional deaths reported. The six lower counties have 645 cases and 32 deaths.
▪ Hancock County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to open beaches at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Facilities like bathrooms and volleyball courts will remain closed, but people will be allowed to go to the beach as long as they don’t gather in groups of 10 or more people.
▪ The Mississippi Legislature will reconvene the 2020 Legislative Session on May 18. The Legislature recessed its 125-day Session temporarily on March 18 due to the new coronavirus.
▪ Gautier will distribute free hand sanitizer to Gautier residents at Singing River Mall from 9 a.m.-noon on Thursday. Each vehicle will receive one 6-ounce container of hand sanitizer after showing proof residency such as a driver’s license or utility bill. The Gautier Fire Department will be distributing the hand sanitizer until supplies run out.
▪ Beaches in Jackson County re-opened Monday — Front and East Beach in Ocean Springs and the beach in Pascagoula.
This story was originally published April 28, 2020 at 11:58 AM.