Reeves delays more reopenings: ‘We cannot allow the cure to be worse than the disease’
Gov. Tate Reeves promised Mississippians at his news conference Wednesday that he will continue reopening the state, but not right now because COVID-19 case numbers and deaths are too high.
He said that he is extending the state tax filing deadline from May to July 15.
The Mississippi State Health Department reported 217 new COVID-19 cases today and 32 deaths just before his news conference started Wednesday. The total number of cases in Mississippi stands at 8,424 since the first case was reported March 11, with 374 total deaths.
Five of the deaths reported Wednesday are not new but are from death certificates just now being counted, State Epidemiologist Paul Byers said.
“This is not good news,” Reeves said. “The fact is that we are in the middle of a very challenging time for our state.”
On Facebook, some commenters are hammering Reeves for failing to open more small businesses, such as nail and hair salons, while allowing retail stores and restaurants to reopen with restrictions.
Reeves said the state has to “get control of the spread” of COVID-19 to keep from overwhelming the healthcare system. Byers said hospitalizations, and intensive care and ventilator use are stable.
Reeves said he wants to avoid a resurgence of the new coronavirus in the fall, which could have more devastating results for the economy.
“We cannot allow the cure to be worse than the disease,” Reeves said.
Reeves and Byers urged Mississippians to wear masks when they venture out. Reeves said families should send one person to the grocery store rather than going in groups.
He said that many people have asked him what churches are allowed to do, but he has not issued any executive orders limiting worship services because he does not believe it is lawful in America.
Instead, he has and continues to urge pastors to use common sense, he said. Many houses of worship are live-streaming services, as Reeves himself does on Sunday mornings on his Facebook page.
He is aware thousands of Mississippians watch his weekday news conferences on Facebook and he often talks directly to them.
“We have got to continue to fight this fight,” he said. “We have got to continue to step up. And, trust me, I know you’re tired of it.
“I know you’re ready to be done with it. I’m ready to be done with it.”
Not for the first time, he compared sheltering in place and other COVID-19 restrictions to a diet. He said Mississippians can’t be cooped up for months on end, contributing to his decision to allow some activities to resume.
He wrote Wednesday morning on Twitter:
“Across the country, these social distancing measures have been like strict diets. People can’t sustain them for a long time.
“And when they start to reach a breaking point, they go straight for the chocolate cake. They give up on the mission, rather than ease up on the measures.
“Whatever we do has to be sustainable, or it will do more harm than good. That’s why we are working to give people some semblance of normalcy. Please do not give up. Not everything legal is wise for you and your family. We need you to stay smart and to stay strong. “
This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 3:49 PM.
