One Coast county drives up COVID-19 cases in South MS as some numbers improve statewide
South Mississippi is now averaging 380 new coronavirus cases a day — a new high driven by one county — while cases statewide were below 2,000 for the third day in a row, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported Wednesday.
Harrison County reported 251 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, the MSDH said. Cases in other South Mississippi counties were below 100 each, with Jackson County, the second most populous in the region, reporting 98 new cases.
Statewide, the MSDH on Wednesday morning reported 1,648 new cases and 31 deaths. Mississippi now has had a total of 243,899 cases and 5,315 deaths.
All but four of the state’s 82 counties are under a mask mandate that Gov. Tate Reeves plans to extend, including those in South Mississippi.
The health department announced late Wednesday that all available vaccine doses and appointments are spoken for, and no more appointments can be scheduled until the state receives more doses in mid-February.
That comes a day after Gov. Tate Reeves announced that eligibility for vaccines was immediately expanded to include all residents 65 and older and all adults with pre-existing conditions. Previously, vaccines were available to health care workers and residents 75 and older.
Mississippians have swamped telephone lines and a state website to make appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations at 18 drive-thru clinics set up by MSDH. South Mississippi hospital systems and Coastal Family Health Center clinics joined MSDH in offering vaccinations.
Long wait times were being reported to make appointments through MSDH.
MS Gulf Coast cases reported
Cases and case increases for South Mississippi counties are listed below:
George: 1937 (8 new)
Hancock: 2433 (50 new)
Harrison: 12,698 (251 new)
Jackson: 9,898 (98 new)
Pearl River: 3,100 (40 new)
Stone: 1,373 (6 new)
This story was originally published January 13, 2021 at 11:57 AM.
