Live coronavirus updates June 4: Ten new cases, 2 more deaths reported in South MS
Harrison and Jackson counties had the most of the 10 new cases of coronavirus reported Thursday, June 4, in South Mississippi.
Harrison County had 4 new cases, Jackson County had 5 and George County had 1 as the number of cases in South Mississippi stands at 946.
Several of the new cases in Jackson County were at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. The shipyard reported 4 new cases today and one on Wednesday. Three of the cases were employees working at LPD 28 and two were working at LHA 8. Of the 47 cases reported to date at Ingalls, 35 are cleared to return to work.
One additional death in both George and Jackson counties were added today after review of deaths from April 26-26, bringing the total deaths to 67 in the six counties of South Mississippi.
Mississippi State Department of Health reported Thursday 238 new cases and 12 deaths, for a total of 16,560 and 794 deaths in the state since March 11.
Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said Wednesday that many of the new cases of coronavirus are people in the 18-29 age group and said the virus is being spread at shrimp boils and other events. He said a nurse who has been working at a hospital got the coronavirus not from patients but in the community.
He and Gov. Tate Reeves cautioned people to avoid parties, gatherings and parades.
“If you do not I will be forced to make decisions I do not want to make,” Reeves said.
Total cases for counties in South Mississippi are:
George — 29 (1 new)
Hancock — 90 (0 new for two days)
Harrison — 269 (4 new)
Jackson — 314 (5 new)
Pearl River — 212 (0 new for two days)
Stone — 32 (0 new for two days)
The presumed recovered case count stands at 11,203 through May 31.
3 p.m.
Singing River Health Systems reported the seven-day average of positive CoViD tests has crept up to an average of 2.14 per day, from the previous average of 1 per day.
“Not shocking with everything opening up,” said CEO Lee Bond, who urged people to wash their hands, and to not touch their face, hug or shake hands.
Singing River Health has 257 positives to date from more than 5,000 tested, 88 admissions and 4 still hospitalized.
9:45 a.m.
Free testing for coronavirus will be held from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at the Moss Point Riverfront Recreation Center, 4400 Denny St. Finger stick results will be returned in 10 minutes.
People should bring an insurance card if covered. The test is in response to data that shows ethnic minority populations have a greater likelihood of illness and death from COVID-19.
9:30 a.m.
Starting Friday, June 5, retirees and VHIC cardholders will be able to use the Base Exchange and Commissary at Keesler Air Force Base Monday through Saturday.
On Sundays, technical training students will be allowed to use these facilities from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All other patrons will have access from 1 p.m. to closing. Coronavirus safety procedures continue to be followed.
8:30 a.m.
With 159 million Economic Impact Payments processed, the Internal Revenue Service reminds many low-income Americans who don’t usually file tax returns to register for a payment by Oct. 15.
Millions of low-income people and others who aren’t required to file a tax return may be eligible for an Economic Impact Payment and can register for a payment by using the free Non-Filer tool.
In the past two months, more than 159 million Americans have received Economic Impact Payments totaling almost $267 billion. Of the payments, 120 million were sent by direct deposit, 35 million by check and 4 million payments were made in the form of a pre-paid debit card.
Individuals can use Get My Payment to check on their payment status.
Wednesday’s highlights
▪ Wednesday was 12 weeks since the first case of coronavirus was reported in Mississippi, and there’s another death on the Coast and South Mississippi is averaging about 7 new cases a day.
Across the state there were 302 new cases and 15 new deaths reported today, including 1 in Jackson County.
Since March 11, Mississippi has seen 16.322 cases and 782 deaths, according to today’s report from the Mississippi State Department of Health.
There are 11,203 estimated recoveries in the state.
▪ Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic at Point Cadet in Biloxi is postponed for a week because of Tropical Storm Cristobal.
The new schedule has registration on Wednesday, June 10. The boats depart Thursday and return Saturday for weigh-in, with social distancing observed.
▪ The July 4 Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo in Gulfport is canceled this year because of the coronavirus.
▪ The Blood Center now is testing all donors for COVID-19 antibodies.
This free service will inform the donor if they carry the COVID-19 antibody, which will indicate whether the individual has been exposed to the virus. Donors who test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may be eligible to donate COVID Convalescent Plasma.
Donors must go to thebloodcenter.org or call 800-86-BLOOD to schedule an appointment.
▪ Mississippi has been approved to operate Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, a new federal program that provides assistance to families of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals dealing with school closures.
It will benefit current SNAP participants and other eligible households to offset the cost of meals that would have otherwise been eaten at school.
For the 2019-20 school year, Mississippi had approximately 357,000 children eligible for free and reduced-priced lunch, or about 74% of children in participating schools.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 12:03 PM.