Live coronavirus updates June 5: No new cases, deaths in 3 Mississippi Coast counties

Mississippi has 209 new cases and 9 deaths today, but there were no new COVID-19 cases or deaths in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties.

There was 1 new case reported in George County, but with one removed from yesterday’s total in Harrison County the net gain in the six South Mississippi counties was 0 — with no new deaths.

The seven-day average number of cases in South Mississippi now is 7.

Mississippi Department of Health reports the totals for South Mississippi since March 11 are 946 cases and 67 deaths.

The state totals are 16,769 cases and 803 deaths.

Presumed recoveries statewide are 11,203 as of May 31.

Total cases by county in South Mississippi are:

George — 29 (1 new), 2 deaths

Hancock — 90, 12 deaths

Harrison — 269, 7 deaths

Jackson — 314, 15 deaths

Pearl River — 212, 31 deaths

Stone — 32, 0 deaths

11 a.m.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports it continues to identify and seize a large number of counterfeit, unapproved or otherwise substandard COVID-19 products that threaten the health and safety of American consumers, including a large shipment in Vicksburg.

Criminal organizations are attempting to exploit the limited supply of and increased demand for some pharmaceuticals, personal protective equipment and other medical goods required to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, CBP said in a press release. Among the products these criminals are smuggling and selling are counterfeit safety equipment, unapproved COVID-19 test kits, unproven medicines and substandard hygiene products through the online marketplace.

10 a.m.

First time claims for unemployment in the six counties of South Mississippi fell to 4,154 for the week ending May 30, as businesses reopened from the coronavius shutdown. That is down from 4,697 the prior week and the fewest new claims in the state since March 21.

Total first time claims for the 6 counties since March 21 are 65,320.

Since the pandemic began George County has had 2,127 first time claims, Hancock County 5,343, Harrison 32,443, Jackson 19,463, Pearl River 4,315 and Stone 1,629.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported Friday the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell in May to 13.3% from 14.7% in April, an improvement economists hadn’t expected.

8 a.m.

The Moss Point Visionary Circle free testing for coronavirus scheduled for Saturday is postponed a week until June 13 because of the tropical storm. It will be held from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 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.

7 a.m.

For those eager to get a drivers’ license, Mississippi’s Department of Motor Vehicles will begin to reopen some centers on Monday.

Renewal and duplicate driver licenses, ID cards, and address changes will not be available at driver license centers until further notice. These services are available online from any computer, tablet or mobile phone at driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov.

Services that will be available are: CDL transactions, out of state transfers, student permit tests, new credentials, new identification cards, security guard permits (Wednesday only), sex offender registration, reinstatements, non-U.S. Citizens and ignition-interlock restricted licenses.

To make sure the facilities do not become overcrowded and overwhelmed, a system is in place that allows people to visit on a day that corresponds to the first letter of their last name. The schedule is:

• Monday: A-E
• Tuesday: F-L
• Wednesday: “Walk-in Wednesday” when anyone is allowed to visit DMV centers
• Thursday: M-S
• Friday: T-Z

Thursday’s highlights

▪ Harrison and Jackson counties had the most of the 10 new cases of coronavirus reported Thursday 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.

▪ 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.

Singing River Health has 257 positives to date from more than 5,000 tested, 88 admissions and 4 still hospitalized.

▪ 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.

This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 1:50 PM.