After nearly 2 years, Reeves will end COVID state of emergency in Mississippi. Here’s why
Mississippi’s COVID-19 state of emergency will end on Nov. 20, Gov. Tate Reeves said in a Tweet on Thursday.
The state of emergency was last extended for 30 days on Oct. 11. It originally went into effect on March 14, 2020, in response to the spread of the coronavirus at the start of the pandemic.
“With more than 3,000,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine having been administered in Mississippi and with COVID-19 infections and resulting hospitalizations being effectively managed, it is time to end the State of Emergency in Mississippi.” Gov. Tate Reeves tweeted.
The emergency order authorizes the state’s COVID-19 System of Care Plan, which allows for transfers of patients throughout Mississippi’s health care systems. The plan was instrumental during the delta surge, when zero hospital beds were available across the state.
The order also enables expanded access to the Mississippi National Guard and telemedicine. It did not enable any lockdowns or mandates.
And while Reeves extended the order in early October, a previous executive order dispersing 920 MEMA nurses across 61 state hospitals in September was not included. Singing River Health Systems said they hoped the governor would have also extended their contracts because of a severe nursing shortage in Gulf Coast hospitals.
The announcement comes as recent daily coronavirus case numbers in Mississippi have averaged about 300-500 cases per day, down significantly from August’s daily averages of 4,000-5,000 cases per day at the peak.
Mississippi is still lagging behind national averages in vaccination rates — 58% of adults nationally are fully vaccinated, while rates clock in at 46% statewide. The three southern counties, Hancock Harrison and Jackson, average a 37% vaccination rate.
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 4:30 PM.
