Mississippi reports almost 2,000 new COVID-19 cases in biggest one-day increase ever
Mississippi reported its largest number of new COVID-19 cases ever Saturday morning, with 1,972. The previous largest one-day increase was 1,775 on July 30.
The grim milestone also means that two of the three worst days for coronavirus case reporting in the state were Saturday and Friday. The seven-day new-case average now stands at 1,294.
The state’s health department also reported 15 new COVID-19 deaths, with three in Jackson County and one in Pearl River County. It also reported six new deaths that had been identified from death certificate reports between Oct. 31 and Nov. 13, including one in Harrison County.
As of Friday, the Coast’s largest hospital has no ICU beds left: Memorial Hospital in Gulfport is treating four COVID-19 patients and none of the hospital’s 26 ICU beds are open.
The picture is a bit brighter at the Coast’s other hospitals. The smaller Merit Health in Biloxi has two beds available and is treating one COVID-19 patient; the Singing River hospitals in Ocean Springs and Pascagoula have five and seven beds available respectively.
As of Thursday, the number of patients hospitalized in the state was 863, about a 45% increase from Oct. 30, when it was 595. Of those patients, 225 are on ventilators.
There were 237 new cases in the six South Mississippi counties, with 97 in Harrison County and 72 in Jackson.
The new single-day record comes as millions of Americans plan to travel to celebrate with their extended families.
“Now is the riskiest time we’ve seen for transmission during this whole pandemic,” State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said at a Facebook Live event Friday.
Here are the numbers for each South Mississippi county:
- George: 1,210 cases (22 new)
- Hancock: 1,123 cases (9 new)
- Harrison: 6,763 cases (97 new)
- Jackson: 6,019 (72 new)
- Pearl River: 1,405 cases (20 new)
- Stone: 704 cases (17 new)
Friday, Nov. 20
COVID-19 cases in Mississippi topped 140,000 Friday with state health department reporting another 1,638 cases — the second-highest single-day increase to date with the highest at 1,700 on July 30.
The state health department reported another 23 deaths, with two of those deaths in the six southern counties. One death occurred in Jackson County this week, and the other occurred in Harrison County between Oct. 31 and Nov. 13.
The seven-day average of COVID-19 cases continued to trend upward Friday to 1,208.14, one of the highest averages seen since Aug. 1 when average hit 1,257.43.
The number of outbreaks at long-term care facilities increased slightly to 170 cases.
The six southern counties in South Mississippi had an additional 185 cases, with the highest increases in Harrison and Jackson counties with a total of 117 new cases combined.
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs called the upward trend in COVID-19 hospitalizations “very worrisome” Friday but said “we have the power to turn it around if we do what it takes to protect ourselves and our families.”
As of Friday, 3,642 Mississippi residents had died of COVID-19.
Today, in South Mississippi counties, MSDH reported the following cases:
George: 1,188 cases (6 new)
Hancock: 1,114 cases (16 new)
Harrison: 6,666 cases (62 new)
Jackson: 5,947 (55 new)
Pearl River: 1,385 cases (22 new)
Stone: 687 cases (24 new)
Thursday, Nov. 19
The seven-day average of COVID-19 cases in Mississippi continued to top 1,100 for the second time since August with the state health department reporting 1,395 new cases and 19 deaths Thursday.
Two of the new deaths were in South Mississippi, with one each reported in Hancock and Jackson counties. Since the first death in the six southern counties on March 19, 355 residents in the six southern counties have died of the new coronavirus.
The number of coronavirus outbreaks at long-term care facilities increased slightly Wednesday to 169 cases.
The state’s seven-day average of new coronavirus cases now stands at 1,160.57, which is among the highest averages seen since mid-September.
The majority of new coronavirus cases in the six southern counties occurred in the more heavily-populated counties of Jackson and Harrison, with a total of 136 new cases between the two counties.
According to a COVID-19 tracking map, no U.S. state clears the threshold to safely allow indoor gatherings, though they continue to go on in Mississippi and elsewhere.
Today, in South Mississippi counties, MSDH reported the following cases:
George: 1,182 (9 new)
Hancock: 1,098 cases (3 new)
Harrison: 6,604 cases (74 new)
Jackson: 5,892 (62 new)
Pearl River: 1,363 cases (6 new)
Stone: 663 cases (11 new)
Wednesday, Nov. 18
The seven-day average for COVID-19 cases in Mississippi cleared 1,100 for the first time since Aug. 4 with 1,593 new cases and 20 deaths reported by the state health department on Wednesday.
The seven-day average now stands at 1,142.86 after the figure had dropped to 412.71 on Sept. 14.
The 1,593 cases reported on Wednesday is the fifth-largest single-day report this year.
Three of the new deaths reported on Wednesday were in South Mississippi — one each in Hancock, Pearl River and George counties.
The number of outbreaks in long-term care facilities took a slight dip with 143 reported on Wednesday a day after hitting the highest point since Sept. 4 with 154.
Tuesday, Nov. 17
COVID-19 cases have topped 135,000 in Mississippi, where a majority of the state’s counties “have reached a tipping point for uncontrolled spread and will require the use of stay-at-home orders” to slow the pandemic’s spread, according to date compiled by the Harvard Global Health Institute.
The Mississippi State Department of Health on Tuesday reported 905 new cases and 36 deaths, with 17 of those deaths occurring before Nov. 11. Mississippi now has a total of 135,803 cases and 3,581 deaths.
In South Mississippi, four of the new deaths were in Jackson County, while Harrison reported 3 previous deaths, Jackson County reported two and Hancock County reported 1.
The seven-day average of new cases stood at 1,094.71 — the fifth day in a row the number broke 1,000. That hasn’t happened since the pre-mask mandate days of late July and early August. Gov. Tate Reeves issued a statewide mask mandate Aug. 4 but rescinded it Sept. 30, when the seven-day average for new cases was 516.71
Today, 22 counties are under a mask mandate, including Harrison and Jackson in South Mississippi.
But data compiled by the Harvard Global Health Institute indicates the governor needs to take broader action.
A majority of Mississippi counties — 60 of 82 — have reached a “tipping point for uncontrolled community spread” and need stay-at-home orders to contain the virus, key metrics indicate. Harrison and Pearl River are the only South Mississippi counties outside this red zone, but they are one step below with “accelerated risk.”
Risk levels are based on the number of cases per 100,000 population.
Today in South Mississippi counties, MSDH reported the following case numbers:
George: 1,167 cases (8 new)
Hancock: 1,082 cases (11 new)
Harrison: 6,476 cases (23 new)
Jackson: 5,786 cases (23 new)
Pearl River: 1,339 cases (12 new)
Stone: 636 cases (4 new)
Free COVID-19 tests and flu shots
Coastal Family Health Center will be offering free flu shots and coronavirus tests at several locations around the Coast over the next week. Here are the dates, locations and times to get tested and protect yourself from the flu:
Thursday, Nov. 19
Location: Feed My Sheep, 2615 19th St, Gulfport
Time: 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.
What’s offered: Flu shots and COVID-19 testing
Friday, Nov. 20
Location: Goodwill Industries, 2957 Bienville Blvd, Ocean Springs
Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
What’s offered: Flu shots
Monday, Nov. 23
Location: Leakesville Clinic-Fred’s Parking Lot, 1616 Williams Dr., Leakesville
Time: 9 a.m .- 3 p.m.
What’s offered: Flu shots
Tuesday, Nov. 24
Location: Loaves and Fishes, 610 Water St, Biloxi
Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
What’s offered: Flu shots and COVID-19 testing
Monday, Nov. 16
Mississippi reported 589 new cases and two new deaths due to COVID-19 on Monday.
The new numbers brought the state’s seven-day new-case average to 1,099, just shy of 1,100. The last time Mississippi had such a high seven-day average was in early August.
According to the most recent county snapshots provided by the state, the vast majority of cases in South Mississippi arise from community transmission, not from outbreaks like those in long-term care facilities.
Test positivity rates, which public health experts use as an indicator of how widespread the virus is in a community, range widely in Coast counties.
Jackson County has a test positivity rate of 26.9%, as of Nov. 4, and George County has a rate of 28%.
Harrison County’s rate is 10.9% and Hancock’s is 6.6%.
Pearl River and Stone County have the lowest rates, at 2.7% and 5.8% respectively.
There are currently 146 ongoing outbreaks in long-term care facilities in Mississippi, affecting about two-thirds of the state’s facilities.
Mississippi Today reported last week that Mississippi has the most nursing home cases per capita of any state in the country, at 407 cases per 1,000 residents. Nearly half of the state’s nursing home residents have contracted COVID-19, and a fifth of people who get COVID-19 in a nursing home die from it.
Numbers reported on Mondays tend to be lower because private labs report less over the weekend.
Since the pandemic began, Mississippi has reported 134,898 COVID-19 cases and 3,545 deaths.
Total cases by county are:
George — 1,159 (0 new)
Hancock — 1,071 (3 new)
Harrison — 6,453 (21 new)
Jackson — 5,763 (17 new)
Pearl River — 1,327 (4 new)
Stone — 632 (3 new)
Sunday, Nov. 15
The state health department reported 969 new cases and three deaths Sunday.
The seven-day new-case average came to 1,088 with Sunday’s figures, the highest it has been since Aug. 5.
Ninety-nine of the new cases were reported from the state’s lower six counties, including 33 in Jackson County and 28 in Harrison County.
The total number of cases state-wide since the pandemic began is now 134,039. In Mississippi, 3,543 people have died of COVID-19, according to the state.
Total cases by county are:
George — 1,159 (9 new)
Hancock — 1,068 (8 new)
Harrison — 6,432 (28 new)
Jackson — 5,746 (33 new)
Pearl River — 1,323 (13 new)
Stone — 629 (8 new)
This story was originally published November 16, 2020 at 10:53 AM.
