Mississippi reports 4th straight day of more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases
Saturday was the fourth straight day of more than 1,000 new cases of the coronavirus in Mississippi.
The state health department reported 1,370 cases — the highest number this week — and 21 deaths.
Three of those deaths were in South Mississippi, with 1 each in George, Harrison and Pearl River counties.
Total deaths in South Mississippi since the pandemic began is 341, with 105 COVID-19 deaths in Jackson County, 101 in Harrison, 65 in Pearl River, 34 in Hancock, 22 in George and 14 in Stone.
South Mississippi added 198 new cases Saturday. The six counties have 16,258 total cases since March 11 and a seven-day average of 145 new cases a day.
Across Mississippi there have been 133,340 cases and 3,540 deaths attributed to the coronavirus. The seven-day average is 1,065 cases a day,
Total cases by county are:
George — 1,150 (7 new)
Hancock — 1,060 (23 new)
Harrison — 6,404 (73 new)
Jackson — 5,713 (73 new)
Pearl River — 1,310 (new new)
Stone — 621 (13 new)
Friday
The numbers kept up a steady climb Friday with 1,305 new cases and 5 new deaths in the state, 2 of those deaths on the Coast.
This brings the seven-day average to 1,017 cases a day and the totals to 131,970 cases and 3,519 deaths in Mississippi.
Presumed recoveries stood at 111,430 through Nov. 8. With the 3,443 deaths through Nov. 8, that means 11,816 people in Mississippi had COVID-19 on Sunday.
There were 683 people hospitalized in Mississippi with the coronavirus on Nov. 11, the most since late August.
South Mississippi had 187 new cases reported Friday, along with two deaths in Jackson County. Totals now are 16,060 cases and 338 deaths.
The number of cases has continued to escalate more rapidly in more heavily populated Harrison and Jackson counties, and now the other counties are seeing a jump in numbers, especially in Hancock County.
The seven-day average in South Mississippi is 150 per day.
Total cases by county are:
George — 1,143 (15 new)
Hancock — 1,037 (29 new)
Harrison — 6,331 (52 new)
Jackson — 5,640 (73 new)
Pearl River — 1,301 (8 new)
Stone — 608 (10 new)
Thursday
For a second day in a row, Mississippi reported more than 1,200 new COVID-19 cases. The state health department said Thursday there were 1,271 new cases and 17 deaths.
In the six southern counties of the state, there were 144 new cases and three new deaths: one in Hancock County and two in Harrison County.
The new deaths brought a grim milestone to Harrison County. It has now reported 100 deaths due to COVID-19. Jackson County has reported the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in south Mississippi, with 103.
The high case figures come as State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs has sounded the alarm over a growing strain on hospital beds as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.
The strain extended to Coast hospitals. The largest hospital in the region, Gulfport Memorial, had just two adult ICU beds available as of Wednesday.
The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide was 669 as of Nov. 10, the highest level since late August. The number of patients in an ICU was 191.
The seven-day average of new cases in the state fell slightly from above 1,000 to 968. That was because the recent new-case peak of 1,612 on Nov. 5 fell out of the tally.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 15,873 confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Mississippi and 336 deaths.
Total cases by county in South Mississippi are:
George: 1,128 (11 new)
Hancock: 1,008 (5 new)
Harrison: 6,279 (55 new)
Jackson: 5,567 (39 new)
Pearl River: 1,293 (16 new)
Stone: 598 (18 new)
Testing available at Kroc Center in Biloxi
Drive-up COVID-19 testing will be provided by Coastal Family Health Center at The Salvation Army Kroc Center on Nov. 12 and Dec. 10.
Those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, running nose and loss of smell or taste are encouraged to get tested.
Testing will run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on both days. There will be no out-of-pocket expense for tests.
The Kroc Center is located at 575 Division St. in Biloxi.
Wednesday, Nov. 11
The seven-day average for new COVID-19 cases in Mississippi climbed over 1,000 for the first time since Aug. 5 after the state health department announced 1,256 cases on Wednesday.
The seven-day average in Mississippi now stands at 1,017.00, including 172.14 in the state’s southernmost six counties.
Gov. Tate Reeves announced Wednesday that he is extending the mask mandate for 15 counties, including Jackson and Harrison on the Coast.
The health department also announced 17 new deaths from the coronavirus, including one in Harrison County that took place on either Nov. 1 or Nov. 2.
Hospitalization numbers continue to climb in the state with 641 people hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Nov. 9. That’s the state’s highest mark in the last three weeks.
The 199 patients in intensive care is also a three-week high.
There have been 129,394 reported cases of COVID-19 and 3,497 deaths in the state this year.
Total cases by county in South Mississippi are:
George: 1,117 cases (4 new)
Hancock: 1,003 cases (19 new)
Harrison: 6,224 cases (40 new)
Jackson: 5,528 (47 new)
Pearl River: 1,277 (4 new)
Stone: 580 cases (11 new)
Tuesday, Nov. 10
The state has 933 new cases of COVID-19 and 37 more deaths, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported Tuesday morning, bringing the seven-day average of new cases to 947, the highest number since Aug. 8.
In South Mississippi, coronavirus has killed four more people and 103 new cases have been reported, most of them in Jackson County, where Gov. Tate Reeves brought back a mask mandate Oct. 21. because the case count was so high.
Harrison County had two new deaths, with three reported from earlier after death investigations, Pearl River had 2 new deaths and while Jackson County reported one new death.
Harrison County was added to the mask mandate a week later.
As Mississippi and the country brace for more cases during the winter months, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs will be answering questions about COVID-19 at noon Thursday on Facebook. The MSDH says the public can email questions to questions@HealthyMS.com to have them answered during the live session.
The state now has a total of 127,205 COVID-19 cases with 3,443 deaths. In South Mississippi, a total of 15,604 cases have been reported with 332 deaths.
Total cases by county are:
George: 1,113 cases (19 new)
Hancock: 984 cases (7 new)
Harrison: 6,184 cases (22 new)
Jackson: 5,481 (44 new)
Pearl River: 1,273 (5 new)
Stone: 569 cases (6 new)
Monday, Nov. 9
South Mississippi’s two most populous counties continue to see increasing new cases of coronavirus cases, and two counties reported 0 new cases on Monday.
Mississippi State Department of Health reported Monday 516 new cases and 0 additional deaths in the state. Monday numbers tend to be lower than other days because of the less reporting from private labs over the weekend.
Total cases statewide have reached 127,205 with 3,443 deaths. The seven-day average is 905 new cases a day, the most since Aug. 10.
Hospitalizations are rising with the escalation of coronavirus cases. Those hospitalized with COVID-19 reached 619 statewide as of Nov. 6, the highest number since early September. There are 177 with the coronavirus in ICU, the highest since mid-September. The number of patients on ventilators is since mid-reached 619 people with 74, down from 82 on Nov. 5.
Mississippi also ranks seventh in the country for most coronavirus deaths per capita.
“As much as we would like to wish COVID away, we cannot,” State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs tweeted Oct. 30. “We can prevent it and soon, immunize against it. MS ranks #7 in per capita deaths. The choice between health and the economy is a false choice. There is a middle path that optimizes both.”
South Mississippi had 83 new cases Monday, with 73 of them in Harrison and Jackson counties. George and Pearl River had no reported cases on Monday.
Both Harrison and Jackson counties are under a mask mandate and other restrictions, including limiting indoor gatherings to 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 50 people, according to Gov. Tate Reeves’ executive order.
Over the weekend, thousands of people gathered outside in downtown Ocean Springs for the annual Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival. Many people did not wear masks and were frequently crowded within six feet of each other.
The seven-day average is 175 new cases a day, down from 205 on Oct. 28.
The six southern counties have had 15,501 cases since the pandemic began, with 324 deaths.
Total cases by county are:
George — 1,094 (0 new)
Hancock — 977 (5 new)
Harrison — 6,162 (26 new)
Jackson — 5,437 (47 new)
Pearl River — 1,268 (0 new)
Stone — 563 (5 new)
Sunday, Nov. 8
Mississippi had 804 new cases and 10 more deaths Sunday, none of them in South Mississippi.
That brings the total for the state since March 11 to 127,205 cases and 3,443 deaths.
South Mississippi added 176 new cases. for a total of 15,418.
Total cases by county are:
George — 1.094 (2 new)
Hancock — 972 (7 new)
Harrison — 6,136 (85 new)
Jackson — 5,390 (74 new)
Pearl River — 1,268 (4 new)
Stone — 558 (4 new)
This story was originally published November 9, 2020 at 11:54 AM.