Worried about ‘hospital crisis,’ MS governor extends mask mandate and adds 8 counties
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced Thursday he is extending his Safe Return executive order by two weeks and adding eight counties to his mask mandate, which already included Harrison and Jackson on the Coast.
The mask mandate has been extended until 8 a.m. Aug. 17.
“We are throwing everything that we can at the hospital crisis in our state, and we are going to continue working to ensure the integrity of our health care system,” Reeves said. “I want to underscore again: even if you do not personally fear coronavirus, the overwhelming of the system affects everybody. If you get in a car wreck, you don’t want to be treated in a tent like we saw in other parts of the country. You want to get the best possible care.”
Starting on Monday, the eight counties added to the mask mandate will be Carroll, Coahoma, Jones, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Noxubee, and Pontotoc.
The counties that have already been included in the order are Bolivar, Calhoun, Claiborne, Covington, Desoto, Forrest, Grenada, Harrison, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Madison, Montgomery, Panola, Quitman, Rankin, Sharkey, Simpson, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Walthall, Washington, Wayne, Winston and Yalobusha.
Social distancing guidelines under the order include:
▪ People shall wear face coverings when at public gatherings or in a shopping environment.
▪ People shall maintain 6 feet of distance between themselves and others.
▪ Social gatherings shall be limited to no more than 10 people indoors and 20 outdoors.
