STAY HOME: MS COVID-19 cases climb, first Pontotoc case reported

The Mississippi Department of Health’s daily report shows a continuing increase of positive coronavirus cases. This morning, the report lists a total of 207 cases statewide, an increase of 67 from yesterday’s report. The Mississippi death toll remains at 1. Northeast MS counties showing an increase as of yesterday’s count include Chickasaw, Lee, Marshall, Pontotoc and Tippah, all with one new case. These were the first positive reports for Chickasaw and Pontotoc counties.

The United States now has 26,747 diagnosed cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the third highest total globally, while the number of deaths around the world has now surpassed 13,000 according to John Hopkins.

According to the Department of Health’s website: Next week MSDH will be setting up six drive-up testing sites across the state with assistance from the National Guard and the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The sites are aimed at those with COVID-19 symptoms such as fever of 100.4 or greater and severe cough or chest pain. We’ll be checking temperatures and getting samples to the state Public Health Lab for testing as part of a larger effort to get wide-scale COVID-19 testing under way for those who need it most.

Yesterday, Mayor Shelton closed down and auction underway at the Tupelo Furniture Market, which was in violation of a recent Executive Order issued earlier. Shelton took the occasion to level criticism at state government for what he termed an “abdication of leadership authority in a time of emergency.”  Shelton proposed a Shelter in Place order for the city,  and discussed it with the city council.  Nothing official has yet been issued.