Harrison, Jackson counties see jump in COVID-19 cases Saturday. Here’s where to get tested in Mississippi
Harrison and Jackson counties each reported 30-plus new cases of COVID-19 Saturday, bringing the total number of cases in Harrison County to 3,721, with Jackson County at 3,378 cases.
Harrison and Hancock counties each reported one additional COVID-19 death Saturday, bringing the total number of deaths in the state’s southernmost six counties to 234.
The state health department reported 655 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths. Of the total number of cases, 99 were reported in the lower six counties.
Two of the new deaths reported Saturday occurred between Aug. 29 and Sept. 5, based on death certificate records. Neither of those deaths occurred in the Coast counties.
The state now has a total of 93,087 cases and 2,809 deaths.
The number of patients hospitalized with a confirmed infection stands at 506 as of Sept. 18, with 87 patients on ventilators.
COVID-19 cases in South Mississippi:
George — 744 (5 new)
Hancock — 561 (7 new)
Harrison — 3,721 (34 new)
Jackson — 3,378 (35 new)
Pearl River — 862 (14 new)
Friday, Sept. 18
Statewide COVID-19 cases are holding steady rather than going down as data has shown in previous weeks, but State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs said Friday that he is not expecting a Labor Day spike like the state experienced after Memorial Day and July Fourth.
Both Dobbs and Gov. Tate Reeves said in an afternoon news conference that they are encouraged by the number of people wearing masks and social distancing. Dobbs also urged residents to continue avoiding large groups and to attempt small gatherings only outdoors.
Free testing for COVID-19 is now available at specified times in all of Mississippi’s 82 counties. The testing schedule is posted on the websites of the Mississippi State Department of Health and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, which is partnering with MSDH on testing.
Also, Memorial Hospital at Gulfport is offering drive-up testing from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, in Moss Point at the Sue Ellen Recreational Building, 4131 Sue Ellen St.
The MSDH reported 497 new COVID-19 cases on Friday with 12 deaths. Total cases now stand at 92,432 with 2,792 deaths.
County-by-county numbers and other daily statistics were delayed and had not been posted on the MSDH website Friday afternoon. The Sun Herald will update South Mississippi numbers when they become available.
Thursday, Sept. 17
Jackson and Pearl River counties each reported one COVID-19 death Thursday, bringing the total number of deaths in the state’s southernmost six counties to 232.
The state health department reported 701 new cases of COVID-19 and 24 deaths on Thursday. Seventy new cases were reported in the six lower counties.
Ten of the deaths reported Thursday took place between Aug. 19 and Sept. 6. They were identified from death certificate reports, the state said. Neither of the two deaths reported in Pearl River and Jackson County fell into that category.
The figures bring the statewide totals to 91,935 cases and 2,780 deaths.
The number of patients hospitalized with a confirmed infection stands at 518 as of Sept. 15, down from 532 the day before.
Race and gender disparities in COVID-19 cases and deaths remain stark: about 49% of Mississippians who have died of COVID-19 were Black, while 46% were white. About 56% of Mississippians are white and about 38% are Black. And Black Mississippians have reported half of all cases.
Women have suffered 57% of all COVID-19 cases; there are slightly more women than men in the state.
COVID-19 cases in South Mississippi
George — 739 (the state reported one fewer case in George County than it did the day before)
Hancock — 554 (10 new)
Harrison — 3,687 (27 new)
Jackson — 3,343 (17 new)
Pearl River — 848 (15 new)
Stone – 346 (1 new)
Wednesday, Sept. 16
On Wednesday, Mississippi’s state health department reported 711 new cases of COVID-19 and 22 deaths, bringing the state’s total cases this year to 91,234 and deaths to 2,756.
For the third time in the last four days, there were no deaths reported in the state’s southernmost six counties. There were 64 new cases reported in the area on Wednesday.
There have been 9,448 cases of COVID-19 in South Mississippi with the seven-day average standing at 43.43.
As of Sept. 14, there were 532 people with confirmed cases of the coronavirus hospitalized in Mississippi. There were another 138 with suspected infections.
The total of 173 patients on ventilators is a new low for the month and a significant dropoff from a July peak for the state.
COVID-19 cases in South Mississippi
George — 740 (3 new)
Hancock — 544 (2 new)
Harrison — 3,660 (28 new)
Jackson — 3,326 (25 new)
Pearl River — 833 (5 new)
Stone – 345 (1 new)
Tuesday, Sept. 15
Mississippi’s new cases and deaths rose Tuesday from Monday, as they they typically do, yet the seven-day average for South Mississippi is the lowest it’s been since mid-June.
The state health department reported 505 new cases and 28 deaths. The total now is 90,523 cases and 2,734 deaths statewide.
Through Sept. 13, the health department estimates 78,971 recoveries in the state.
Hospitalizations continue to drop to the lowest number in many weeks, with 524 people with coronavirus hospitalized, 177 in ICU and 88 on ventilators as of Sunday.
South Mississippi added 27 cases and 2 deaths, both of them in Harrison County. That brings the total in South Mississippi to 9,834 cases in six months and 230 deaths.
The seven-day average Monday was 42, which shows an average of 42 deaths were reported in the six lower counties per day over the past week. The high of 184 average cases per day came Aug. 30 and the number has been below 100 cases since mid-August.
Total cases in South Mississippi Tuesday are:
George — 737 (8 new)
Hancock — 542 (2 new)
Harrison — 3,632 (7 new)
Jackson — 3,301 (4 new)
Pearl River — 828 (5 new)
Stone — 344 (1 new)
Monday, Sept. 14
Gov. Tate Reeves announced Monday during a press conference for Hurricane Sally that he’s extended the mandatory mask order in Mississippi until the end of the month.
His Safe Return order now is in force until 5 p.m. on Sept. 30.
He also eased restrictions on restaurants and other businesses. They include:
▪ Group gathering limits are increased to no more than 10 indoors or 50 outdoors when social distancing is not possible.
▪ When social distancing is possible, group gatherings are set at 20 indoors or 100 outdoors.
▪ Maximum capacity for retail businesses, restaurants, gyms and seated dinners at reception halls and conference centers increased to 75%.
▪ Restaurants are now limited to 10 people per table.
▪ Gyms can be open 24 hours a day.
Somewhat overshadowed by preparations for the hurricane, Reeves said Monday’s new cases were 145. That is the fewest since May 18.
There were 9 new deaths statewide. None of them were in South Mississippi for the second straight day.
“According to the White House, we are no longer in the Red Zone,” for COVID-19 cases, Reeves said.
Six months and a few days after the first coronavirus case was reported in Mississippi, the state has topped 90,000 cases as the numbers of new cases and deaths continue to slide downward.
The total statewide is 90,018 cases and 2,706 deaths.
South Mississippi had 18 new cases Monday, bringing the total to 9,357 cases and 228 deaths.
Total cases in South Mississippi Monday are:
George — 729 (0 new)
Hancock — 540 (2 new)
Harrison — 3,625 (6 new)
Jackson — 3,297 (7 new)
Pearl River — 823 (1 new)
Stone — 343 (2 new)
Sunday, Sept. 13
Mississippi Health Department reported 254 new cases and 12 deaths, with none of the deaths in South Mississippi.
The total now is 89,874 cases in Mississippi and 2,697.
South Mississippi had 24 new cases reported Sunday, bringing the total to 9,339.
Total cases in South Mississippi Sunday are:
George — 729 (3 new)
Hancock — 538 (1 new)
Harrison — 3,619 (12 new)
Jackson — 3,290 (5 new)
Pearl River — 822 (3 new)
Stone — 341 (0 new)
This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 1:57 PM.