It’s been 2 months since South Mississippi saw this many new coronavirus cases in a day
South Mississippi has gone seven days with no new deaths, but the number of new cases hit a high Monday not seen since April 15.
Monday’s report from the Mississippi State Department of Health shows 283 new cases and 4 deaths across the state. That brings the total to 19,799 and 895 deaths statewide.
Presumed recoveries as of June 14 are 15,323.
South Mississippi has added 137 new cases in one week. Total cases are up to 1,129 Monday compared to 992 on June 8.
Harrison County’s escalating number of cases now has it tied with Jackson County for the most cases in the six counties with 367 cases. Harrison County has added 68 new cases since June 8.
South Mississippi has gone eight straight days with no new coronavirus deaths.
Total cases in South Mississippi are:
George — 37 (2 new cases)
Hancock — 100 (0 new cases for three days)
Harrison — 367 (13 new cases)
Jackson — 367 (11 new cases)
Pearl River — 223 (1 new case)
Stone — 35 (1 new case)
Health department officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said Friday Mississippi’s rise in coronavirus cases hasn’t really been a spike but “a creep up.”
Contrast it with the massive increase in cases in Florida, Texas, Arizona, Utah and Oregon, he said, and Mississippi hasn’t seen the same degree of new cases as other states have had.
Dobbs said if 60%-80% of the people in Mississippi would wear masks, it would keep the state from having shutdowns.
“Masks keep businesses open,” he said.
Mississippians are independent people, he said, and officials will be more successful if convince rather than push residents to wear masks.
The average age of those who are positive continues to drop, with 46 the average age in the last few weeks, said Lee Bond, CEO of Singing River Health System. Initially the average age was 55+, he said.
This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 11:51 AM.
