Hospitalizations from the Coronavirus are climbing in Mississippi, and officials are trying to slow the spread of the virus and prevent the state's healthcare system from being overwhelmed. Residents in 13 counties are required to wear a mask in public and social distance. Governor Reeves says when the pandemic started there were conflicting messages about masks, but now data has proven that they are effective. "Is wearing a mask in public foolproof? Does it guarantee that no spread is going to occur? No. It does not. But it can go a long way towards helping," says Reeves. "And when you combine wearing a mask in public, socially distancing, and you combine that with the other measures that we have in place, it can make a real difference."
Coronavirus hospitalizations in Mississippi have almost doubled in the past month, and State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs says some hospitals have added more beds, but many of the state's largest hospitals are operating at maximum capacity. He says "In the Jackson area there are four hospitalscurrently with no intensive care unit beds available. In the state there are eight hospitals with no ICU capacity available. I would like to commend hospitals for adding capacity. Mississippi hospitals have added ICU beds from their surge capacity and are staffing them to meet the need of Mississippi patients."
Dr. Dobbs says if hospitals continue to stay at maximum utilization, people who need urgent care may not receive it.
