COVID-19 deaths in South MS reach new landmark; new cases trend lower statewide

The seven day average of coronavirus cases in Mississippi fell below 1,000 for the first time since mid-November, before the holidays brought an onslaught of new infections.

Reported COVID-19 cases were below 850 per day statewide for four days during the past week, bringing the seven-day average to 941.14 daily cases by Saturday. It was the first time since mid-November that the seven-day average had fallen below 1,000.

Vaccine data updated Friday afternoon by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show Mississippi’s continued progress in vaccinating its population.

Mississippi, which started out at the bottom of the heap in December in terms of vaccinations administered, is now #26 among states for number of first and second doses given per capita. However, the state is #37 among states for first doses administered.

The Mississippi State Department of Health on Saturday reported 1,036 new cases of COVID-19 and 44 deaths. The state now has a total of 280,778 coronavirus cases and 6,266 deaths.

The seven-day average number of cases on the Coast also has fallen considerably, from well above 300 after the holidays to below 200 for the past two days. The seven-day average Saturday for South Mississippi’s six counties was 150.14 daily cases.

While four South Mississippi counties reported no new deaths, Harrison and Jackson counties had four deaths each. South Missisippi’s death toll for the first time climbed above 700 to 707.

COVID-19 cases for South Mississippi are listed below:

George County: 2,192 (10 new)

Hancock County: 3,214 (6 new)

Harrison County: 15,620 (38 new)

Jackson County: 11,745 (34 new)

Pearl River County: 3,820 (15 new)

Stone County: 1,632 (3 new)

Friday, Feb. 6

Mississippi reported 1,210 new coronavirus cases and 40 new deaths on Friday.

In the six counties of South Mississippi, there were 193 new cases and 5 more deaths.

The state’s seven-day average of new cases continued to drop, with the average Friday standing at 1,011.

Since the state reported the first COVID-19 case in March, the state has had a total of 279,742 cases and 6,222 deaths.

Of the new deaths reported Friday, there were 3 new deaths in Harrison County and one each in Jackson and Pearl River counties.

As of Feb. 3, the number of people hospitalized in Mississippi with confirmed COVID-19 cases was 833 along with another 64 patients suspected of having the virus. There were 235 patients in ICU and 138 on ventilators.

Vaccine appointment can continue to be set up through covidvaccine.umc.edu or by calling 877-978-6453.

COVID cases in South Mississippi:

George County – 2,182 (11 new cases)

Hancock County – 3,208 (14 new cases)

Harrison County – 15,582 (72 new cases)

Jackson County – 11,711 (75 new cases)

Pearl River County – 3,805 (14 new cases)

Stone County – 1,629 (7 new cases)

Thursday, Feb. 4

The state department of health reported 1,210 new cases of the coronavirus and 24 deaths on Thursday.

Of those 24 deaths, seven took place in the state’s southernmost six counties — three in Hancock, two in Harrison, one in Pearl River and one in George.

Statewide, there have been 6,182 deaths from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. South Mississippi has had 694 of those deaths.

The number of people hospitalized in Mississippi with confirmed COVID-19 cases was 871 as of Feb. 2. That’s the lowest mark since Nov. 19.

As of Feb. 2, there were 242 patients in intensive care with 148 on ventilators.

Vaccine appointments can be set up through covidvaccine.umc.edu or by calling 877-978-6453.

COVID-19 cases in South Mississippi:

• George County – 2,171 (3 new cases)
• Hancock County – 3,194 (15 new cases)
• Harrison County – 15,510 (98 new cases)
• Jackson County – 11,636 (46 new cases)
• Pearl River County – 3,791 (16 new cases)
• Stone County – 1,622 (7 new cases)

Wednesday, Feb. 3

The state health department announced 791 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, bringing the seven-day average for new cases in Mississippi to 1,235.

Mississippi reported 26 new deaths, including two each in Jackson and Pearl River counties.

The state reported 122 new cases in the six counties of South Mississippi, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 37,739.

Hospitalizations have been falling gradually since the beginning of the month, reaching 898 patients on Feb. 1, down from 1,358 on Jan. 12. There were 262 patients in an ICU and 152 on ventilators, down from 360 and 228 at the start of the month.

Coast ICUs continue to treat large numbers of COVIID-19 patients. As of Feb. 1, Singing River Pascagoula was treating eight patients in its ICU, with two beds available. Singing River Ocean Springs was also treating eight patients with three ICU beds available.

Merit Health in Biloxi was treating five patients in its nine-bed ICU, with no available beds.

Memorial in Gulfport was treating six patients in the ICU, with 13 beds available. The hospital increased ICU beds from 26 to 38 to accommodate the increased need.

The state’s vaccine rollout puts it in the bottom half of the pack nationally, with 7.2% of Mississippians having received at least one dose, below the U.S. average of 8%.

Racial disparities remain significant: as of Feb. 2, just 17% of doses had been given to Black Mississippians. On the Coast, Vietnamese seniors are struggling against a language barrier and technology issues as they try to get vaccines.

Vaccine appointments can be set up through covidvaccine.umc.edu or by calling 877-978-6453.

COVID-19 cases in South Mississippi:

• George County — 2,168 cases (3 new)
• Hancock County — 3,179 cases (5 new)
• Harrison County — 15,412 cases (36 new)
• Jackson County — 11,590 cases (44 new)
• Pearl River County — 3,775 cases (26 new)
• Stone County — 1,615 cases (8 new)

Tuesday, Feb. 2

Mississippi announced 825 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, the third day in a row with less than 1,000 new cases, which hasn’t happened since late November.

The seven-day average for new cases in Mississippi is now 1,419 — the lowest since Dec. 1.

There were 76 deaths reported in the state on Tuesday as the death toll now stands at 6,132 since the coronavirus pandemic began last year.

Seventeen of the deaths were reported in the state’s southernmost six counties, including 11 in Harrison County. There were three reported in Jackson County, two in Pearl River and one in Hancock.

Statewide, the number of people hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 was 913 as of Jan. 31. That figure stood at 1,444 on Jan. 4.

There were 269 people in intensive care, including 152 on ventilators.

People who are ages 65 and up are eligible for the vaccine. Also, people who are 16 and up and suffer from a pre-existing condition that makes them more susceptible to severe symptoms of the coronavirus are eligible.

Vaccine appointments can be set up through covidvaccine.umc.edu or by calling 877-978-6453.

COVID-19 cases in South Mississippi:

George County c 2,165 (17 new cases)

Hancock County — 3,174 (12 new cases)

Harrison County — 15,376 (84 new cases)

Jackson County — 11,546 (51 new cases)

Pearl River County — 3,749 (32 new cases)

Stone County — 1,607 (2 new cases)

Monday, Feb. 1

The seven-day average of new cases of the coronavirus in Mississippi dipped Monday to the lowest point since early December, but health officials caution it’s still too high and much higher than the summer surge.

Mississippi State Department of Health reported 705 new cases and 11 deaths Monday.

The state’s seven-day average of 1,509 cases per day is the lowest since Dec. 1. The peak was 2,432 on Jan. 10, which was 10 months into the pandemic.

South Mississippi is now averaging 300 new cases a day, down from a high of 375 in mid-January.

Dr. Paul Byers, state epidemiologist, said last week that the numbers are showing signs of leveling off after the post-holiday surge, but they are still much higher than at the summer peak. The seven-day average peaked during the summer at 1,381 cases on July 26.

The state had 1,229 deaths from the coronavirus reported in January, 160 of them in South Mississippi.

As of Saturday, over 6,000 Mississippians have died of the coronavirus since the pandemic began. Harrison County is the first in South Mississippi to tally over 15,000 total cases.

South Mississippi added 101 new cases Monday and 1 new death in Stone County.

The death toll by county now stands at 223 in Harrison County, 196 in Jackson County, 111 in Pearl River, 66 in Hancock, 42 in George and 28 in Stone.

Cases by county since March 11 are:

George — 2,148 (3 new)

Hancock — 3,162 (8 new)

Harrison — 15,292 (56 new)

Jackson — 11,495 (24 new)

Pearl River — 3,717 (3 new)

Stone — 1,605 (7 new)

Totals for South Mississippi: 37,419 cases, 666 deaths

Totals for Mississippi: 275,706 cases, 6,056 deaths, 222,812 recoveries through Jan. 24.

Vaccination report: Through the end of January, 217,443 first doses and 26,447 second doses of vaccine have been administered, for a total of 243,890.

Sunday, Jan. 31

Numbers of new cases reported by the health department typically are lower on weekends. On Sunday, 811 new cases and 27 more deaths were reported in Mississippi.

In the six counties of South Mississippi, 146 new cases and 5 deaths were added.

Total cases by county are:

George — 2,145 (5 new)

Hancock — 3,154 (26 new)

Harrison — 15,236 (56 new)

Jackson — 11,471 (43 new)

Pearl River — 3,714 (10 new)

Stone — 1,598 (6 new)

This story was originally published February 1, 2021 at 12:54 PM.