Live updates for May 3: Coast has 2 new cases of coronavirus, no new deaths

The Mississippi State Department of Health reports 109 new cases and 12 new deaths Sunday, one of the lowest numbers since April 8, when 88 cases were reported.

The lower number of cases come after Friday’s record 397 cases and 20 deaths.

In the lower six counties, there is 1 new case each in Hancock and Pearl River counties and no new deaths.

Totals for South Mississippi are:

• George — 14 (0 new)
• Hancock — 68 (1 new)Harrison — 181 (0 new)
• Jackson —267 (0 new)
• Pearl River — 177 (1 new)
• Stone — 22 (0 new for 11 days)

Statewide, MSDH reports 7,550 cases and 303 deaths.

The 12 new deaths occurred in Attala, Calhoun, Carroll, Forest, Grenada, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Madison, Rankin, Scott and Yazoo counties.

6 p.m.

A member of the administration at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport has tested positive for COVID-19, an official there said Sunday.

The employee in the healthcare administration was diagnosed April 24 and is recovering at home. Through contact tracing efforts, the AFRH determined the employee had been around several other staff members, including senior-level employees.

There is no indication the administrative official had any contact with residents there. So far, no residents have displayed symptoms or tested positive there.

AFRH staff and residents are required to social distance and wear what the AFRH called “face coverings,” to try to prevent them from catching the novel coronavirus. Only a limited number of visitors are now allowed at the Gulfport home.

3 p.m.

As of Sunday, Ingalls Shipbuilding had 33 cases of coronavirus, with no new cases reported since Friday. All of those who tested positive work on the shipyard’s West Bank.

1 p.m.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 1,092,815 of coronavirus and 64,283 deaths.

Highlights from Saturday:

▪ MSDH reported 229 new cases and 10 new deaths, after Friday’s record 397 cases and 20 deaths. In the lower six counties, there were 10 new cases in Hancock, Harrison and Pearl River counties and 1 new death in Jackson County.

Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker is requiring store workers to wear masks.

▪ The Blind Tiger in Bay St. Louis said it is giving away free crawfish to first responders and health care workers starting at 11 a.m. Sunday after the state suddenly shut down its crawfish-cooking area on the patio.

▪ State Rep. Tom Miles, D-Morton, said his mother has died of COVID-19, and it’s probable she contracted the virus as a result of her work as a nurse on the front lines of the pandemic.

▪ Biloxi’s curfew ends Sunday morning, and the city released a four-page document detailing the guidelines for businesses to reopen. Guidelines include:

• All businesses and churches limited to 50% occupancy.
• Restaurant and bar workers “will” wear masks. Retail store workers “should” wear masks.
• All businesses should be able to provide contact tracing information to the health department. After a person tests positive for COVID-19, the health department says it tracks down anyone that person may have come into contact with while possibly contagious.

▪ Earlier this week, Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker signed an order asking everyone, both workers and customers, to wear masks at all stores and restaurants.

This story was originally published May 3, 2020 at 2:17 PM.