Mississippi has the highest coronavirus transmission rate in the nation, and state officials have requested thousands of healthcare workers and medical equipment to assist the state’s overburdened hospitals. During a press conference, Governor Tate Reeves gave his strongest support for the vaccine to date, however, he stopped short of telling Mississippians they should get the vaccine.
“I believe you, as an individual Mississippian can be trusted to make good and responsible decisions," says Reeves. "Good practices are a choice, staying healthy is a choice, keeping your neighbors and your coworkers healthy is a choice. And let’s all make the right choices.”
Reeves says if someone chooses to not get the coronavirus vaccine, they should consider social distancing and mask usage to protect themselves and loved ones.
Last week, Governor Reeves announced he would not sign a mask mandate for schools despite a rise in pediatric cases. Reeves says he has gotten input from both sides of the political aisle asking to either ban masks or require them.
Anticipating more questions on the matter, he told reporters “Let me be clear, I do not give a damn about any political agenda. This pandemic, much of which is a pandemic of the unvaccinated at this time, is before us. There will be plenty of time for politics, but this ain’t it. My objective is to give Mississippians the facts, give them and their local officials the tools they need to make good decisions, and then trust them to love each other enough to do it.”
Health officials say the state is ramping up coronavirus testing to accommodate increasing demand.
