Mississippi officials speak after confirmed new coronavirus case. Here’s what to know.
On Wednesday night, Mississippi confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus, and on Thursday state officials announced the State of Emergency Operation Center will be at level 1 for the first time since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs, MEMA Executive Director Greg Michel and other state officials held a press conference at 11 a.m. Thursday in Jackson.
A man from Forrest County, whose largest city is Hattiesburg, is self-quarantined at his home. The man, who is not over age 65, recently traveled to Florida. The state is monitoring the situation. A very limited number of people he came into contact with also are under self-quarantine, said Paul Byers, state epidemiologist.
The state is recommending limiting large public events, and that anyone over 65 or with complicated medical conditions not attend any gathering of over 250 people.
“We are also strongly recommending organization or groups having mass events of more than 250 people to strongly consider canceling,” Dobbs said, which includes school events.
“Everyone needs to take precautions at mass gatherings even of smaller numbers,” he said, adding that “social distancing is also something that we need to consider.”
Dobbs said the State Department of Health is making it easier for physicians to order tests, and streamlined testing now is being done through the Health Department and commercial labs.
Dobbs said the state has done 42 tests and can do up to 200 a day.
“This is gonna change, this is a fluid situation,” Dobbs said.
Officials also recommended:
▪ Limiting gatherings, especially for people over age 65, and keeping separate from large groups
▪ Knowing which areas are at most risk and avoid them when traveling
▪ Limiting visitors to state capital
▪ Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities should discontinue outside social activities and consider stopping non-essential visitation. They should consider limiting visitation by children.
▪ Department of Corrections temporarily is suspending visitation at all facilities.
“Please don’t visit the emergency room unless it’s an emergency,” Dobbs said, and called the ER the “exact wrong place to go.”
Those who are sick should call their clinic or doctor’s office, he said, and not sit in a hospital waiting room for hours exposing others to an illness.
There is no treatment or vaccine, although one is in development, officials said. The vast majority of respiratory symptoms will not be COVID-19, they said, and directed those who have been sick to stay away from gatherings and work.
Gov. Tate Reeves was on a family vacation in Spain and will return Friday afternoon. Additional actions may be taken at that time, officials said.
“We should anticipate this will be disruptive,” said Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann.
“Everybody needs to use common sense,” he said. COVID-19 is containable and can be minimized by common sense, he said.
“Don’t assume that you are impervious,” said House Speaker Phil Gunn.
The two most important things people can do is wash their hands and stay home when they are sick, officials said.
The Centers for Disease Control reported Wednesday that 938 confirmed and presumptive positive cases and 29 death in the U.S. Mississippi was one of 12 states that didn’t have a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.
On Thursday the CDC reported that in 1 day, coronavirus was in all but 8 states, with 1,215 cases and 36 deaths.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 11:38 AM.
