COVID-19 April 6 Update

Unemployment claims

• We continue to receive many positive comments about our interview with Jackie Turner last Friday.
• If you have not seen that interview and you still have questions about unemployment benefits, I invite you to watch it. We may have very well answered your questions during that interview.
• Many of you continue to reach out to us with other unemployment questions, and we welcome that as well. My staff is working very hard to get you the answers you need. Please continue to call us or email us.
• We have also reviewed the unemployment benefits under the CARES Act, and tomorrow I plan to devote my daily update to a discussion of that.
• If you have questions about how the unemployment benefits of the CARES Act may affect
• you, please be sure to watch our update tomorrow.

The virus has added to everyday healthcare concerns

• As we have said, the shelter-in-place order exists to prevent an outbreak of the virus that overwhelms our healthcare system. We do not want the number of sick people to exceed our ability to take care of them.
• One of my doctor friends reminded me today of how important this is. He pointed out that other everyday normal healthcare needs have not stopped – people are still having heart attacks, car wrecks, chronic illnesses and other healthcare needs that are continuing to make demands on the healthcare system.
• If the healthcare system becomes overwhelmed due to COVID-19, some of these people may die as a result of the virus because they could not get the healthcare they needed.
• When we consider the additional demands that are being placed on the healthcare system by
• this virus, the importance of preventing an outbreak becomes obvious. This highlights even
• more the need for us to obey the shelter-in-place order.

Why are stores not limiting number of customers?

• Well, they should be.
• We have repeatedly cautioned against having too many people in one place.
• I have seen some stores create space zones between customers, provide sanitizer to customers, wipe grocery carts down as they hand them to customers, install face shields between cashiers and customers, and prevent the number of customers in the store at one time.
• Obviously, larger stores have the ability to allow more people in because they have more space over which to spread them out.
• However, if you are aware of a store that is not taking the necessary precautions to protect the public, please let us know and we will investigate.
• Our main goal is to protect the health of our citizens and prevent the spread of the virus.

Update on number of cases.

• 100 new cases reported yesterday.
• Total cases statewide now number 1,738.
• Unfortunately, we now have 51 deaths.
• 38 long-term care facilities around the state report active cases.

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].