COVID-19 June 1 Update

Status of the virus

  • Unfortunately, we are beginning to see a rise in hospitalizations across the state.
  • There is concern that we are at or over hospital capacity in the Jackson and Hattiesburg areas. If we continue to see a rise in hospitalizations, we very well could exhaust hospital capacity on other areas as well.
  • We also currently have 113 patients on ventilators, which is the highest number to date.
  • If these trends continue, we could experience what we have been trying to avoid – an overrun in the capacity of our healthcare system to treat those with the virus.
  • The Mississippi Department of Health (MDOH) believes this is the result of people ignoring the social distancing guidelines and other guidelines that were implemented.
  • In those areas where spikes are occurring, reports from those areas indicate people are gathering in groups without proper safety measures in place.
  • Even though businesses are allowed to open and resume activity, the MDOH is still asking people to continue to be vigilant in following the CDC and MDOH guidelines on social distancing, hand washing, and wearing masks.
  • We cannot get casual or relax in fighting this virus. We must continue to engage in safe practices to help eradicate the spread of this virus.
  • If we are not careful, all the gains we made this spring by our painful sacrifices could be lost.

Disaster Relief for Easter Storms

  • The Governor’s request for federal public assistance for additional counties following April 12, 2020, Easter Tornadoes, has been approved.
  • Initially, Jones, Covington and Jefferson Davis Counties were approved for public assistance.
  • The following counties are now eligible public assistance through FEMA: Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Coahoma, Grenada, Holmes, Jasper, Lafayette, Lawrence, Leake, Montgomery, Noxubee, Panola, Quitman, Smith, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Walthall, Webster and Yalobusha.
  • The purpose of the Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program is to support communities’ recovery from major disasters by providing them with grant assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure. Local governments, states, tribes, territories and certain private nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.

Update on the number of cases.

  • 215 cases reported yesterday.
  • Total cases statewide now number 14,790.
  • Unfortunately, we now have 710 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].
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