According to Governor Tate Reeves’s executive order, residents in 13 more counties are required to wear face masks in public and limit social gatherings. Now, 54 of the state’s 82 counties are under the order. Many of the counties added are smaller, and Reeves says over the past two weeks they have surpassed 500 cases per 100,000 residents. “This is a time when the virus is extremely present. It is all around us right now. More than almost any time before. And because of that, I have to continue to ask you to be careful. To safeguard yourself. To protect your loved ones," says Reeves.
Coronavirus hospitalizations are also at record levels, with the Mississippi Department of Health reporting 1,057 patients with COVID-19. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs says there are 12 hospitals across the state that have no intensive care beds available. He says some patients are being referred to out of state hospitals, but they’re also short on beds. He says “We actually now have more COVID-19 patients hospitalized than we have at any point in the pandemic and we are starting to witness patients needing transfer care for specialized treatments that they are unable to obtain, at least in a timely manner.”
The new counties under the governor’s executive order include Adams, Jefferson, Sunflower, and Washington counties. An interactive map showing where there are mask mandates can be found on the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency website.
