MS reports over 750 new COVID cases. Thousands of vaccine appointments available.
New COVID-19 cases have climbed each day this week in Mississippi, reaching a high on Friday of 299,887 and all but assuring the state will surpass 300,000 total cases of the illness that has now killed 6,883 residents.
When he lifted a mask mandate as of March 3, Gov. Tate Reeves noted that hospitalizations were down drastically and case numbers were falling. However, public health officials have cautioned that residents should continue to wear masks in public and avoid social gatherings.
Too little of the population has been vaccinated so far to offer widespread immunity to the coronavirus, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said recently.
On Friday, the State Department health reported 763 new cases of COVID-19 — the largest single-day total of the last two weeks. The seven-day average in Mississippi for new cases is now 449 after the week started at 369.
There were also 19 new deaths reported on Friday, including two in South Mississippi — one in Harrison County and one in Jackson County.
As of March 11, there were 534,573 people who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Mississippi. That number includes 302,524 who are fully vaccinated.
There were thousands of first-dose vaccine appointments available at covidvaccine.umc.edu on Friday morning for people who are eligible for the vaccine. Those eligible include ages 50 and up, people 18-49 with an underlying medical condition, employees at K-12 schools and first responders.
MSDH vaccine appointments can also be made by calling 877-978-6453.
Memorial Hospital in Gulfport is accepting appointments for the Pfizer vaccine for March 16 at its vaccination site at the Lyman Community Center. Appointments can be arranged by calling 228-867-5000.
Thursday, March 11
On the one-year anniversary of the Mississippi State Department of Health reporting its first presumptive case of COVID-19, MSDH reported March’s largest single-day report of new cases at 679.
There were also 19 new deaths reported, including one in Harrison County and one in Stone County.
The seven-day average for new COVID-19 cases is 53 cases fewer than it was a week ago at 424.
MSDH has reported 299,124 cases of COVID-19 and 6,864 deaths from the coronavirus since the pandemic started.
The state’s death toll is nearly the equivalent of the populations of Mississippi cities like Kosciusko, Amory and Waveland.
COVID-19 hospitalizations remain well below the peak of the pandemic — 1,444 confirmed cases hospitalized on Jan. 4. As of March 9, there were 321 people with confirmed cases of the coronavirus hospitalized in the state.
There have been 517,156 people who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Mississippi as of March 10. In that group, 293,379 have been fully vaccinated.
Appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine can be made by the MSDH at covidvaccine.umc.edu or by calling 877-978-6453.
COVID-19 cases in South Mississippi:
- George County — 2,331 (2 new cases)
- Hancock County — 3,569 (7 new cases)
- Harrison County — 17,008 (46 new cases)
- Jackson County — 12,801 (17 new cases)
- Pearl River County — 4,245 (13 new cases)
- Stone County — 1,738 (0 new cases)
Wednesday, March 10
Mississippi continued to see a steady decline in the number of new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
So far, 778,9948 vaccinations have been administered in Mississippi, and of those, 285,231 have been fully vaccinated, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported.
Vaccination appointments can be made through MSDH at covidvaccine.umc.edu or by calling 877-978-6453.
The MSDH reported another 437 cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and 11 new deaths along with 50 long-term coronavirus outbreaks.
The state’s six southernmost counties had a total of 44 new cases compared to 80 new cases Tuesday and 9 new cases Monday.
The majority of new cases in South Mississippi occurred in Harrison and Jackson counties, with 19 and 11 news case reported in each of those counties respectively. In addition, the health department reported 2 new deaths in Harrison County.
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 case in Mississippi, the six southernmost counties account for 41,607 cases and 808 deaths.
COVID-19 cases in South Mississippi:
- George County – 2,329 (0 new case)
- Hancock County – 3,562 (7 new cases)
- Harrison County – 16,962 (19 new cases)
- Jackson County – 12,784 (11 new cases)
- Pearl River County – 4,232 (6 new cases)
- Stone County – 1,738 (1 new case)
Tuesday, March 9
The number of COVID-19 vaccine shots given out in Mississippi now stands at 778,948 with 285,231 having been fully vaccinated with two doses, according to numbers released Tuesday by the State Department of Health.
Vaccination appointments can be made through MSDH at covidvaccine.umc.edu or by calling 877-978-6453.
Hospitalization stats continue to decline in the state with 313 people in Mississippi hospitals with confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of March 8. That number was at an all-time high of 1,444 on Jan. 4.
There were 94 people in intensive care with COVID-19 on March 8.
A day after there were just nine new cases of COVID-19 reported in the state’s southernmost six counties, there were 80 on Tuesday.
There were five deaths reported in South Mississippi in Tuesday — all in Harrison County.
COVID-19 cases in South Mississippi:
- George County – 2,329 (1 new case)
- Hancock County – 3,555 (20 new cases)
- Harrison County – 16,943 (39 new cases)
- Jackson County – 12,773 (17 new cases)
- Pearl River County – 4,226 (7 new cases)
- Stone County – 1,737 (2 new cases)
Monday, March 8
It’s anniversary week in Mississippi — a year since life went from “watch and see” on Monday, March 9, to the first case of the coronavirus identified on Wednesday, March 11 and schools and offices shut down on Friday, March 13.
Here is a look at the numbers since then:
- 6,808 people died in Mississippi with the coronavirus.
- 801 of the deaths were residents of the six counties of South Mississippi.
- 297,651 people test positive for COVID-19 in Mississippi.
- 41,477 positive test results were in South Mississippi.
The state and country saw two peaks in cases — the first in late July and early August and a second that began at Thanksgiving escalated until early to mid-January that was much worse than during the summer.
By seven-day average the summer and winter peaks in Mississippi were:
- An average of 1,381 new cases added per day on July 26
- An average of 2,332 new cases a day on Jan. 10
- An average of 35 deaths each day on Aug. 5
- An average of 51 deaths a day on Jan. 17. It was the only day during the pandemic that the seven-day average topped 50 deaths per day.
- The summer peak in South Mississippi was 184 cases a day on July 30.
- The winter peak was 381 average cases a day on Jan. 13.
Since the vaccine became available, cases have rapidly declined. The Health Department reported Monday that 755,202 people have had the first dose of vaccine and 486,147 have had both doses.
Three counties in South Mississippi had no new cases reported Monday.
Post-weekend totals generally are lower than mid-week. Mississippi State Department of Health reported 70 cases and 0 deaths Monday, with 9 new cases in South Mississippi.
Mississippi totals since March 11: 297,651 cases, 6,808 deaths. Through March 1, 278,162 there are presumed recoveries.
South Mississippi totals: 41,477 cases 801 deaths
Total cases by county are:
- George — 2,328 (0 new)
- Hancock — 3,535 (2 new)
- Harrison — 16,904 (5 new)
- Jackson — 12,756 (2 new)
- Pearl River — 4,219 (0 new)
- Stone — 1,735 (0 new)
The counties with the largest populations have had the most deaths. Totals deaths are: 283 in Harrison, 234 in Jackson, 132 in Pearl River, 78 in Hancock, 45 in George and 29 in Stone.
Sunday, March 7
MSDH reported Sunday 260 new cases and 3 additional deaths statewide, with 1 death in Harrison County.
South Mississippi had 70 new cases identified.
Cases by county in South Mississippi are:
- George — 2,328 (1 new)
- Hancock — 3,533 (4 new)
- Harrison — 16,899 (33 new)
- Jackson — 12,754 (4 new)
- Pearl River — 4,219 (7 new)
- Stone — 1,735 (1 new)
This story was originally published March 8, 2021 at 12:29 PM.
