On Wednesday, April 15, Ackerman police officers responded to a business on Hwy. 15 where Quinyelda Clifton-Luckett was placed under arrest and charged with a felony, violating a Health Department order with respect to a life-threatening disease.
Clifton-Luckett had posted on her Facebook page that she had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus on April 9. Rather than self-quarantine for a 14-day period as required, she went into the public with the possibility of spreading the virus.
Police Chief Tim Cook stated that she did confirm the positive test and it was subsequently confirmed independently.
Clifton-Luckett was released on her own recognizance and will stand trial at a later date.
Local coronavirus cases reach
The number of COVID-19 cases to date in Choctaw County now stands at 13, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health.
That is the total number of local cases reported Monday with test results from the previous day and includes all reported cases since March 11.
A table on the agency’s website shows no outbreaks in any long-term care facilities here.
MSDH has since added a detailed breakdown of COVID-19 cases and deaths by race to its website.
The total of Mississippi’s cases reported Monday stood at 4,512, with 169 deaths. MSDH said 359 patients were in hospital care for COVID-19 as of Monday, with 189 of those in intensive care.
Shelter-in-place
order extended
Gov. Tate Reeves announced Friday that he was extending the statewide shelter-in-place by seven days. His new executive order extends the expiration date of his previous order to 8 a.m. Monday, April 27, while providing some ability for “non-essential” businesses to safely make sales.
Reeves shared that he has been advised by state and local officials that they can safely enforce social distancing rules on Mississippi’s lakes and beaches. Friday’s executive order allows them to reopen for individual fishing and relaxing.
The governor also announced that “non-essential” businesses could start making curbside, delivery or drive-thru sales.
