Live updates May 19: Coronavirus cases jump statewide with new cases on the MS Coast
Mississippi saw a jump in new coronavirus cases today, with 272 cases and 27 new deaths, the highest numbers of deaths in one day since May 6.
Totals statewide are 11,704 cases with 554 deaths. Mississippi State Department of Health reported 45 of today’s new cases are in long-term care facilities.
South Mississippi has 4 new cases and one new death in Pearl River County. That brings the total to 824 cases and 57 deaths in South Mississippi.
Pearl River County has the most deaths with 27. Jackson County has 13 deaths, Hancock County 10, Harrison County 6, George County 1 and Stone County still has no coronavirus deaths.
Total cases in South Mississippi are:
George — 19 (2 new)
Hancock — 81 (0 new)
Harrison — 218 (2 new)
Jackson — 287 (0 new)
Pearl River — 195 (0 new)
Stone — 24 (0 new)
3:30 p.m.
A child from Central Mississippi was diagnosed with the state’s first known case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome caused by COVID-19.
State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs said he expects to see more cases and that several suspected cases are being monitored.
2:30 p.m.
Gov. Tate Reeves Mississippi released guidelines churches should follow to resume in-person worship services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he encouraged churches to wait until after June 1 to resume services.
7 a.m.
Singing River Health System reported Monday night the hospitals have performed 3,793 COVID tests, with 235 or 6% of them returned as positive. In the last 24 hours,were 2 positives.
“It has clearly subsided, but we are still hoping to get to a few days in a row with zero positives,” said CEO Lee Bond.
Monday’s highlights
▪ After six days without any new cases of coronavirus, Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula reported 5 new cases Friday through Sunday. Total cases at the shipyard are now 40, with 31 of those employees now eligible to return to work.
▪ Coast Transit Authority is resuming all normal routes and schedules starting Thursday for the reopening of casinos.
All routes will return to 45/90 minutes Monday-Sunday, including the Casino Hopper. The normal fare collections also will return. Passengers must keep their mouth and nose covered at all times while riding or waiting for a bus. Buses and facilities are limited to 10 people at a time and everyone must use 6 feet of social distancing.
▪ Jackson County offices have reopened to the public with social distancing and other guidelines in place.
▪ There were no new deaths related to COVID-19 in the lower six counties for the fourth day in a row, according to Monday’s numbers released by the state. Statewide there were 136 new cases and 7 new deaths. There were three new coronavirus cases on the Coast, with one each in Harrison, Jackson and Hancock counties.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 11:33 AM.