Live updates May 16-17: Coast has 3 new cases as COVID-19 deaths surpass 500 in Mississippi
11 a.m. Sunday
There are 173 new coronavirus cases and 11 new deaths reported by the Mississippi State Department of Health.
In the lower six counties, there is 1 new case in Hancock County and 2 in Jackson County. There are no new deaths in South Mississippi.
Here are the new totals:
George — 17 (0 new)
Hancock — 80 (1 new)
Harrison — 215 (0 new)
Jackson — 286 (2 new)
Pearl River — 195 (0 new)
Stone — 24 (0 new)
11 a.m. Saturday
The Mississippi State Health Department is reporting 322 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 new deaths. The numbers were released Saturday morning and are updated through 6 p.m. Friday.
Mississippi has 11,123 total cases since March 11. Deaths have climbed to 510.
In the six South Mississippi counties, cases increased by 1 each for Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties, bringing total cases to 814. No new deaths were reported in South Mississippi.
Newly reported cases are above 300 for the third day in a row, after five days below 300. The state reported 404 cases on May 8, the highest number of new cases to date.
Total cases in South Mississippi are:
George — 17 (1 fewer)
Hancock — 79 (1 new)
Harrison — 215 (1 new)
Jackson — 284 (1 new)
Pearl River — 195 (0 new)
Stone — 24 (0 new)
Other highlights
▪ Gov. Tate Reeves began reopening the state April 27 after a shelter-in-place order, first allowing retail businesses to open at 50% capacity. Restaurants and bars were allowed to resume indoor service at limited capacity on May 7.
Openings for other businesses have followed. Casinos will be allowed to reopen May 21 ahead of the Memorial Day holiday.
▪ Gulfport announced Friday it will reopen city buildings to the public with the exception of the community centers and gymnasiums. There will be a limit to the number of people who can be inside building lobbies and municipal courtrooms.
▪ With most COVID-19 deaths now in long-term care facilities, Mississippi State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs said a new two-week strategy will test all the residents and employees in nursing homes across the state. Gov. Tate Reeves said it will mean testing 27,000 Mississippians, “a major step forward and a major effort.”
▪ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 22,977 new cases Saturday, for a total of 1,435,098 cases in U.S. The CDC reported 87,315 total deaths, with 1,325 new deaths.
This story was originally published May 16, 2020 at 11:50 AM.