Live updates: Nearly 400 new cases of COVID-19, 20 deaths is most yet in Mississippi
As some Mississippi businesses prepare to reopen, another person has died from the coronavirus in Pearl River County and 24 new cases were reported in South Mississippi.
Today’s report by the Mississippi State Department of Health shows 397 cases in Mississippi and 20 additional deaths, the highest numbers to date since the first case was reported March 11.
The Health Department said 11 of those deaths were added after a review of death certificates between March 29 and April 16.
Since March 11, there have been a total of 7,212 cases and 281 deaths in Mississippi.
The six counties of South Mississippi have reported 717 cases and 38 deaths. The additional death reported Friday in Pearl River brings the number of people who died there to 20.
Harrison and Jackson counties have remained at 6 deaths for more than 10 days, Hancock County has had 5 deaths since April 10, George County has 1 death and Stone County has no deaths reported.
Totals for South Mississippi are:
George — 14 (1 new)
Hancock — 62 (0 new for 2 days)
Harrison — 177 (3 new)
Jackson —267 (8 new)
Pearl River — 175 (12 new)
Stone — 22 (0 new for 9 days)
The Centers for Disease Control reported 30,787 new cases and 2,349 additional deaths. That compares to 26,512 new cases and 2,552 deaths nationwide on Thursday.
5:16 p.m.
Gov. Tate Reeves announced Friday that he will hold off on reopening other businesses follow a spike in COVID-19 numbers in Mississippi.
Reeves had initially planned to further reopen the state’s economy, but the new numbers convinced him to hold steady.
5:12 p.m.
Cat Island and Ship Island remain closed to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2 p.m.
Ingalls Shipbuilding reports an employee who works at LPD 28 has tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total positive cases to 33. The person’s last day at the Pascagoula shipyard yard was April 25. Thirteen of the 22 are now eligible to return to work.
11:43 a.m.
They had such a good response to their first flyover of Coast hospitals this week that the 403rd Wing Air Force Reserve unit at Keesler Air Force Base is planning a second fly by Tuesday, May 5. It will honor healthcare workers, first responders and essential personnel battling the spread of VOVID-19.
The “Hover for Heroes” flyby will feature a WC-130J Super Hercules from the wing’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the Hurricane Hunters.
The flight will start near Highland Community Hospital, Picayune, at 2 p.m., proceed to Ochsner Medical Center-Hancock, Bay Saint Louis at 2:15 p.m., fly by Singing River Health System in Pascagoula at 2:35 p.m., the USS Tripoli (LHA 7) at 2:38 p.m. and Huntington Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula before heading back to Keesler AFB.
11 a.m.
Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes ordered an end to the mandatory curfew at 5 p.m. Friday.
10:45 a.m.
Due to the coronavirus, all court cases scheduled in May at Diamondhead Municipal Court are continued to July. Call the Municipal Court with any questions at 228-222-4626.
9:30 a.m.
While people are home cleaning their yards, Bay St. Louis and Waveland are under burn bans until further notice due to dry conditions and high winds with no rain in the forecast.
8 a.m.
The U.S. Census Bureau is adjusting 2020 Census operations during the coronavirus, says Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson, and field activities could resume after June 1 as area census offices begin returning to full staff.
As of April 30, Mississippi has a 50.2% self-response rate, he said, which means at least half of our state’s population has responded to the census online, by phone or by mail. For every adult and child not counted, Mississippi will lose more than $5,000 in federal dollars each year for the next 10 years.
7:30 a.m.
Jackson County School District is asking for parents to complete a survey by May 8 about the availability of computers and WiFi for students in the district. The information will be shared with the governor’s office to improve distance learning.
7 a.m.
Singing River Health System reports 6 positive test results for COVID-19, all of whom are outpatient, bringing total positives to date to 218.
CEO Lee Bond said people shouldn’t be discouraged by the small spike. The hospital has performed almost 2,700 tests to date, he said, and sometimes a higher number of positives are due to a higher number of tests performed.
Thursday highlights
▪ The Mississippi Health Department reported 11 new deaths on Thursday, putting the total 261 in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pearl River County had eight deaths in the last week. The state reported 246 new cases for a total of 6,815 since March 11.
▪ Gov. Tate Reeves announced casinos should reopen by Memorial Day.
▪ State legislators want a role in allocation of $1.25 billion given to Mississippi through the federal CARES Act, but Gov. Tate Reeves is concerned that any effort to strip him of spending authority will create bureaucratic delays.
“We have a statute that addresses all federal money in a federal emergency situation,” Reeves said. “We’ve had lots of precedent over the last 20 years.
“I don’t really give a damn who is in charge. What I care about is the people who need it and need it now.”
The state legislature is set to reconvene at 1 p.m. on Friday after initially planning a May 18 return date.
▪ Mississippi’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce said Thursday that he believes the state’s food supply is nowhere close to being in danger of running out as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the state.
Gipson said the state and country don’t have a food shortage. “There are reports that plants in the midwest and north have shut down, and the issue there is that some workers have been exposed to COVID-19 and they’re unwilling to come to work.
“We have more food than we know what to do with (after restaurants faced limitations) and schools closed. That’s eliminated about half the domestic market for agriculture. I thank farmers for continuing to work during the crisis. We appreciate every one.”
This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 12:13 PM.