Why so many new COVID-19 cases today in Jackson County? Health Dept. is investigating
The number of new cases of the coronavirus in Mississippi dropped on Wednesday, but pushed the seven-day average to its highest level yet.
The 1,547 new cases was fewer than Tuesday’s 1,635. The seven-day average now stands at 1,214.86 new cases per day average over the last week.
Mississippi State Department of Health reported 1,368 total cases in Jackson County — a record single-day increase of 185 cases.
The Sun Herald asked the Health Department to check that number.
“It is correct,” responded Liz Sharlot, spokeswoman for the Health Department. “We are currently investigating the increase,” she said.
That spike pushes total new cases in South Mississippi Wednesday to a record 253.
Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula reported 28 new cases on Wednesday, adding to Jackson County’s total, and now has 230 cases since the pandemic began. The shipyard had 8 cases on Tuesday and 16 on Monday.
Singing River Health System CEO Lee Bond posted on July 20 the county had a 7-day rolling average of positive test results of 71 per day.
“We have confirmed 1,240 total positive cases, with 15,249 tests performed by our system to date,” he said. “Over the past week, we have hit a new record of nearly 2,500 tests administered to our community. Today alone, we had 198 positive results, many from the backlog of the outside labs, not all from one day, but still a record-setting number.”
There were 34 deaths reported statewide, including 1 in Harrison County. Pearl River County has the most deaths in South Mississippi with 32, followed by 23 in Jackson County, 21 in Harrison County, 14 in Hancock County, 3 in George County and 2 in Stone County, for a total of 95 since the pandemic began.
South Mississippi has 3,853 total cases.
The state has 47,071 total cases of COVID-19 with 1,423 deaths. Estimated recoveries now are 30,315.
There are 942 COVID patients in Mississippi hospitals Wednesday, 288 in intensive care units and 138 on ventilators.
Total cases by county:
- George — 196 (4 new)
- Hancock — 214 (2 new)
- Harrison — 1,573 (52 new)
- Jackson — 1,368 (185 new)
- Pearl River — 391 (8 new)
- Stone — 111 (2 new)
The health department continues to add more information to its daily reports and now has Weekly COVID-19 trends and summaries by county.
This information includes how many cases per 100,000 residents. Based on total cases by the population of each county, Jackson County has been hardest hit in South Mississippi through July 19. Cases per 100,000 by county are:
Jackson — 776
George — 731
Harrison — 700
Pearl River — 668
Stone — 567
Hancock — 428
Other areas of the state have a much bigger impact than South Mississippi.
Six counties in the state more than 3,000 total cases per 100,000 residents, led by Claiborne County with 3,827.
This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 1:13 PM.
