Antibody treatments in short supply as MS reports nearly 2,700 new COVID cases in 1 day
The number of COVID-19 cases in Mississippi jumped by 2,698 on Tuesday, according to the Mississippi Department of Health, which reported more than 7,000 new cases on Monday.
The health department also is reporting 22 new deaths in the state.
The increased numbers came after a 5-day pause in reporting over the Christmas holidays by the state Health Department. During the five days, the average number of new cases was 1,411.
Then on Tuesday the new cases rose 2,698. In South Mississippi, the new cases reported were 246, the highest since late October.
There also has been a death due to the coronavirus in Stone County, the first in Stone County since October. The total deaths reported in South Mississippi on Tuesday was 3.
“Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising rapidly in the state as the Omicron variant spreads,” MSDH said in a Tweet. “Take steps to protect yourself and others.”
State health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs is urging residents to get vaccinated and the coronavirus booster shot as the highly-contagious omicron spreads across the US.
Dobbs also Tweeted on Tuesday that the state is low on monoclonal antibody treatments.
“Monoclonals in short supply - MS allocated < 400 doses this week!” Dobbs said.
Health officials in Mississippi and across the U.S. have repeatedly said vaccines and the booster shot are the best method to avoid a COVID infection.
This story was originally published December 28, 2021 at 1:05 PM.
