The number of COVID-19 cases in Webster County increased by four over the past week, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health. Locally as of Monday morning, 122 positive test results had been reported since March 11. That is up from 118 cases the week before. The number of deaths countywide remained at 10, which includes nine at a long-term care facility. The number of LTCF cases also remained the same — 52. Countywide, the breakdown by race and ethnicity for the 122 total cases is categorized by MSDH as 69 white, 44 Black, five other and four unknown. Of the 10 deaths countywide, seven were white and three were Black. Safe Return order extended On Friday, Gov. Tate Reeves extended his Safe Return order an additional week to protect Mississippians and limit transmission as cases rise in the state. As of Monday, COVID-19 totals for Mississippi were nearly 26,570 cases and nearly 1,060 deaths. Consulting with Dr. Thomas Dobbs and state health experts, Reeves signed a new executive order to extend the social distancing guidelines and restrictions under the Safe Return order until 8 a.m. July 6. “The threat is far from over. Extending our Safe Return order will give us much-needed time to assess this rapidly-changing situation and adapt our response to slow the spread,” said Reeves. “We’re taking every step possible at the state-level to protect public health, but we can’t do it alone. The only way through this pandemic is together. I urge my fellow Mississippians to do their part to help limit transmission in their communities and take care of each other.” Reeves also signed an additional three executive orders Friday. He extended the terms of interim or hold-over appointees until the end of the 2021 legislative session and extended unemployment benefits provided to Mississippi workers until the end of this July.
