Fewer people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Mississippi as death count climbs on the Coast
As schools in South Mississippi started reopening Wednesday, the daily report from the health department showed the number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus is down from the record high a few days ago.
The health department reported 1,245 new cases and 51 more deaths in the state, 19 of those deaths from the review of death certificates in July.
Jackson County moved into the lead in South Mississippi for COVID-19 deaths, as one death each attributed to George and Harrison counties were found to be Jackson County residents.
With 1 new death Wednesday in both Jackson and Harrison counties, the total in South Mississippi now stands at 134 deaths, with 41 in Jackson County, 37 in Pearl River, 35 in Harrison, 14 in Hancock, 4 in George and 3 in Stone.
The state now has 63,444 total cases and 1,804 deaths. Other state statistics show:
- Hospitalizations dropped Aug. 4 to 970 from a high of 989 on July 30.
- The state has 192 COVID-19 patients on ventilators, tying the record on July 29.
- The 329 people in ICU Aug. 4 is a new record.
- As of Aug. 2, the state has 42,391 presumed recoveries, or 70% of cases to date.
Ingalls Shipbuilding reported 14 new cases Wednesday, half of the 29 new cases a week ago on July 29.
Total cases for South Mississippi since March 11 topped 6,000 Wednesday with a total of 6,012 cases. There were 173 new cases reported both Tuesday and Wednesday, for a seven-day average of 148 cases a day.
Totals by county are:
George — 545 (4 fewer than reported Tuesday)
Hancock — 349 (5 new)
Harrison — 2,287 (59 new)
Jackson — 2,156 (93 new)
Pearl River — 515 (19 new)
Stone — 160 (1 new)
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 2:11 PM.
