COVID-19 April 1 Update

Shelter-in-place orders

• We continue to receive questions about the shelter-in-place order entered by the Governor yesterday for Lauderdale County.
• Many have asked if a shelter-in-place order is going to be entered statewide or entered for other areas. It is always possible that other such orders will be entered.
• Therefore, we think it is helpful to summarize what the Lauderdale County order says so that you can understand what is expected of you should you be subject to such an order.
• What you CAN do under a shelter-in-place order. You may leave your home:
  • to perform acts necessary for your health and safety or the health and safety of family members (including pets) or other persons who are unable to or cannot leave their home
  • to obtain food and necessary supplies or services for yourself, your family, or others who cannot leave their home
  • to engage in individual outdoor activity
  • to perform work supporting an Essential Business
• What you CANNOT DO under a shelter-in-place order:
  • Fitness and exercise gyms, dance studios, clubs, tattoo parlors, spas, salons, barber shops, and other similar personal care and grooming facilities must close.
  • You must stay home and may only leave for essential activities. (However, you may leave homes that are unsafe, for example, due to domestic violence or sanitation issues.)
• Individuals involved in Essential Travel must observe social distancing and COVID avoidance guidelines as specified by the CDC.
• Individuals using space outside their homes shall avoid gatherings of more than 10 people and shall maintain a six-foot separation from other persons when outside.
• Non-essential businesses shall cease except for minimum operations necessary to maintain the condition of facilities, inventory and equipment, to perform payroll and benefits functions, and to facilitate employees’ remote work.
• Essential Businesses as identified in Executive Order 1463 (as supplemented) are permitted to remain open to perform essential functions
• Restaurants may remain open only for delivery, drive-through and curbside service.
• All public and private, social and non-essential gatherings in excess of 10 people shall be cancelled or rescheduled.
• All places of amusement and recreation, indoor and outdoor, including but not limited to amusement parks and rides, museums, playgrounds, children’s party and play facilities, parks (not including walking trails), movie theaters, bowling alleys and social clubs, shall be closed to the public.
• The order does not prevent a municipality from entering more restrictive measures.
• A copy of the Lauderdale County order is available here: https://www.sos.ms.gov/Education-Publications/ExecutiveOrders/1465.pdf

Unemployment claims

• We continue to receive a lot of questions regarding unemployment claims. For that reason, we have invited Jackie Turner, Executive Director of Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) to join us for an interview to answer your questions.
• On Friday morning, we are going to post our interview with her, so please be sure to check our Facebook page on Friday morning. Hopefully she can answer all of your questions.
• In preparation for that interview, please be sure to get us your questions by the end of today so that we can get those questions to Jackie for an answer.

Update on number of cases.

• 136 new cases reported yesterday.
• Total cases statewide now number 1073.
• Unfortunately, we now have 22 deaths.

Call if you need help.

• We have had phone calls to our office forwarded to our staff. If you need any help at all, please call us at 601-359-3300.
• We have also set up an email address for you to ask questions or seek help. That address is [email protected].