More than 1,000 new coronavirus cases reported in Mississippi. It’s a one-day record.
Mississippi’s one-day total for new coronavirus cases is over 1,000 — smashing the previous record set just days ago.
The State Department of Health reported 1,092 cases in the state, topping the previous single day number of 611 new cases set on Tuesday.
There were 5 new deaths in the state. None of them were in the lower six counties, the health department reported.
The totals statewide have reached 24,516 with 1,016 deaths and 17,242 presumed recoveries.
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs now is urging face masks for all Mississippians over age 2 in public places and strict social distancing. Dobbs told the Sun Herald on Wednesday that a “major disaster” looms because Mississippi residents are ignoring COVID-19 rules and precautions.
The six counties in South Mississippi also saw a record for a single day with 83 cases. More than half of the newly-reported cases are in Harrison County.
There now are 1,472 cases and 72 deaths in South Mississippi.
Total cases in South Mississippi counties are:
George — 60 (2 new)
Hancock — 112 (6 new)
Harrison — 562 (48 new)
Jackson — 458 (19 new)
Pearl River — 232 (4 new)
Stone — 48 (4 new)
▪ A smaller percentage of people who test positive for coronavirus are hospitalized now than when the pandemic began. The Health Department reports 15% are hospitalized now compared to 20% on April 25 and 31% on March 24.
▪ Through Tuesday, Singing River Health Systems had performed 7,279 COVID-19 tests to date with 368 positives. The average cases per day is down slightly, said CEO Lee Bond, to 6 per day from 7 per day last week.
“There is no doubt that we will have periodic little spikes,” he said. “While the average for the last week was 6, we had a few days with 1 and one day with 12 — largely from a family infection.”
The most common way the virus is spread is within households, he said.
“If people with symptoms, especially in their households, would isolate, get tested and exercise more precautions,” he said, “it would reduce the spread more than anything.”
▪ Mississippi State Department of Health will conduct a COVID-19 mobile drive thru community testing site from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, June 26 at the Hancock County Courthouse Annex Building, 854 U.S. 90 in Bay St. Louis.
An appointment is required to get tested. Call 601-496-7200.
