‘The threat is great as ever.’ Reeves, Dobbs concerned over growing COVID-19 cases.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and the state’s top health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, showed an increased concern over the worsening COVID-19 statistics during the governor’s daily media conference on Monday.
“The threat of COVID-19 is as great as ever, if not greater,” Reeves said.
With the announcement of 251 new cases and five new deaths on Monday, the seven-day average for new cases reached a new high for the ninth consecutive day at 327.71. Those numbers are bolstered by numbers on Friday and Saturday that both cleared 400.
Another worrying trend is the state reaching a new high in coronavirus patients being placed on ventilators at 108 over the weekend.
That number was down to 97 on Monday, but Dobbs was as adamant as ever about the need for Mississippians to follow social distancing guidelines.
“We are seeing an increased strain on our health system,” he said. “It’s still there, it’s still active.”
There was some hope early during the COVID-19 pandemic that higher temperatures during the summer would help slow the spread.
After a warm month of May, Dobbs believes that may no longer be the case.
“It’s not slowing down so far,” he said. “In hot places like Brazil, they’re having massive outbreaks. There are theoretical reasons for why it might slow it somewhat. It may not be enough of an impediment to slow it down enough to overcome the transmission dynamics with people in crowds. I would not anticipate significant help from the summer weather, but I would anticipate a significant worsening in fall and winter as it gets a little bit cooler.”
Jones County, in the middle of the Pine Belt, led the state in new coronavirus cases last week at 86 — outpacing the state’s most populous county, Hinds.
“It’s not a nursing home outbreak and it’s not related to poultry. It’s community transmission for people who live and work in Jones County,” Dobbs said.
He also pointed to Wayne County, which neighbors Jones, and Neshoba as mostly rural counties that are dealing with community transmission.
In some areas, the virus is shifting to a younger part of the population.
“In Jones County, it’s people 20-40. It’s people who are out and about,” Dobbs said. “We’re seeing outbreaks in gatherings that do not meet the guidance in the executive order. On social media, you see people out in large groups. This is not a unique phenomenon to Mississippi.
“This is not about you and your rights, it’s about what you’re doing to someone else. You may give it to your mom and someone else may visit their mom in the nursing home.”
Dobbs encouraged people to follow the state’s suggested limitations on gatherings — 20 inside and 50 outside.
Even smaller groups can prove hazardous.
“We’re working up a card game where a group of people got together playing cards and they almost all caught it from one person,” Dobbs said. “Small groups can still be dangerous. Please be cautious. If you have any symptoms of coronavirus, even if they are mild or you think they are the result of allergies, please get tested and don’t go to a small gathering.”
The state health department recently wrapped up an effort to test people who live and work in long term care facilities, testing about 27,000 people.
“When the final results came out, we didn’t find that many in long-term care facilities,” Reeves said. “We’re seeing a lot more cases in community transmission.
“Wear masks. It’s just not the time to hold significant block parties. If we will be smart, we won’t have to deal with more government mandates.”
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 5:50 AM.
