Live updates May 14: Harrison County has big spike in new coronavirus cases
Harrison County is seeing a spike in new coronavirus cases, with 13 more cases reported today by the Mississippi State Department of Health, following 10 new cases on Wednesday.
Harrison County has recorded 30 new cases in the past week.
Cases jumped throughout the state to 393 cases today, from 182 on Wednesday.
There were 15 deaths reported today. One of those deaths was in Pearl River County, where there now are 26 deaths — twice the number of the next highest county in South Mississippi. Jackson County has 13 deaths, Hancock County 10, Harrison County 6 and George County 1, for a total of 56.
Total cases in the state stand at 10,483 with 480 deaths.
South Mississippi has 25 additional cases today, the highest one-day increase since April 15. There now are 807 total cases in the six counties of South Mississippi.
Total cases for South Mississippi are:
George — 16 (0 new for two days)
Hancock — 79 (4 new)
Harrison — 223 (13 new)
Jackson — 280 (2 new)
Pearl River — 193 (3 new)
Stone — 26 (3 new)
3:50 p.m.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves will be hosting a virtual graduation ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday on his Facebook page.
If you have a graduate who would like to have their name read during the ceremony, you can submit them via a form.
3:42 p.m.
Gov. Tate Reeves said that he agrees with much of what is in Senate Bill 2772, but he and his staff will need time to review to determine it follows rules set by the U.S. Treasury Department.
In the bill, the state legislature has set aside $300 million for eligible small businesses in Mississippi.
11:39 a.m.
The Mississippi state legislature has sent a $300 million bill to Gov. Tate Reeves that is meant to aid the state’s small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senate Bill 2772, which requires the governor’s signature, would create two programs that give a direct payment to some businesses and a grant to others.
The direct payment program would provide a $2,000 check to qualifying businesses that shut down, including hair salons, fitness centers and some restaurants.
Under the “Back to Business Mississippi Grant Fund,” up to $25,000 in grant money will be given to small businesses that employ 50 or fewer people and have experienced an interruption as a result of the virus.
The legislation provides $60 million to the direct payment program and $240 million to grants. Over the first 60 days, $40 million in grants will be set aside for minority-owned businesses.
For the first 21 days of the application period for the grant program, only businesses that did not receive federal funds for COVID-19 relief or compensation from business interruption insurance will be considered.
To qualify under either program, a business must:
▪ Have registered with the Mississippi Department of Revenue on or before March 1, 2020;
▪ Have filed state taxes for the 2018 or 2019 tax year, or plan to file state taxes for 2020 (only businesses which were created on or after January 1, 2020);
▪ Not be a subsidiary of a business with 50 or less employees, or be part of or owned by a larger business enterprise with 50 or less employees; and
▪ Be controlled by one or more Mississippi residents.
8 a.m.
The price of gasoline during the coronavirus shutdown may have bottomed out in South Mississippi. Gas Buddy app reports that as businesses begin reopening, demand in the last week of April rebounded 22% from the lowest overall week of gasoline demand in 2020 , which was April 5-11.
On April 12, the number of gallons purchased was down 62% compared to March 13, the best date in 2020, according to Gas Buddy.
The lowest average price on the Coast came this week at $1.53, according to AAA Gas Prices. The state’s lowest was last week at $1.48 and the national low was hit the week of April 27 at $1.77.
Wednesday highlights
▪ Mississippi reported 182 new cases and 8 deaths on Wednesday. None of those new deaths were in South Mississippi for the second straight day, leaving the total at 55.
▪ Gov. Tate Reeves announced he is lifting a suspension on evictions on June 1. The suspension had been in place since Reeves’ shelter-in-place order went into effect on April 3 to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
▪ Coastal Family Health will conduct free COVID-19 testing at Feed My Sheep in Gulfport on Monday. Anyone can come for a screening, and based on that, receive a test if needed. Testing will run from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at 2615 19th St. in Gulfport.
▪ Pascagoula city buildings will reopen to the public at 8 a.m. May 18 with the exception of the Pascagoula Senior Center and fire department. Residents should continue practicing social distancing and to come into city buildings only when necessary.
This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 11:35 AM.