The number of COVID-19 cases in Webster County increased by five over the past week, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health. Locally as of Monday morning, 127 positive test results had been reported since March 11. That is up from 122 cases the week before. The number of deaths countywide remained at 10. The number of long-term care facility cases also remained the same, 52, which includes nine deaths. Countywide, the breakdown by race and ethnicity for the 127 total cases is categorized by MSDH as 71 white, 44 Black, six other and six unknown. Of the 10 deaths countywide, seven were white and three were Black. Risk-Assessment Map Rates County According to NPR, researchers at the Harvard Global Health Institute are leading a collaboration of top scientists at institutions around the country who have joined forces to create a unified set of metrics for the coronavirus pandemic, including a shared definition of risk levels — and tools for communities to fight the virus. The collaboration launched these tools July 1 including a (at globalpidemics.org) that allows people to check the state or the county where they live and see a COVID-19 risk rating of green, yellow, orange or red. The risk levels are based upon the number of new daily cases per 100,000 people. A community that has fewer than one daily new case per 100,000 is green. One to 9 is yellow; between 10 and 24 is orange; and 25 and above puts you in the red. As of Monday, Webster County was in the yellow zone, which indicates potential community spread. Recommended Interventions are to continue testing, contact tracing and isolation, as well as social distancing, masking and other measures. Safe Return order extended Gov. Tate Reeves’s Safe Return order was scheduled to expire Monday morning. However, on Thursday, he signed an executive order extending the social distancing guidelines and restrictions under the order until 8 a.m. July 20 after record-breaking daily reports of COVID-19 cases. Health officials believe the extension will allow more time to evaluate the state's response to the virus and adapt accordingly. Some of the strict social distancing guidelines in the Safe Return order include the following: • All those in the vulnerable population are strongly encouraged to continue sheltering in place to protect their health. This includes all elderly individuals (age 65 or older per CDC guidelines) and individuals with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and those whose immune systems are compromised as such by chemotherapy for cancer or any other condition requiring such therapy. • For large group gatherings when social distancing is not possible, groups are limited to 20 people or less indoors and 50 people or less outdoors. • For large groups gatherings when social distancing is possible, groups are limited to 50 people or less indoors and 100 people or less outdoors. All travel may resume, while minimizing non-essential business travel when possible. In addition to social distancing, MSDH says wearing a mask or face covering can sharply reduce the risk of passing COVID-19 on to others. Wearing a mask is strong recommended whenever you are in public places with others around you. On Friday, District 1 Supervisor Eudy Morris was handing out free face masks to passersby in front of Liberty United Methodist Church. He was assisted by Eupora Mayor Lamar Dumas. ReStart Mississippi The Mississippi Department of Employment Security has developed a new online reporting system to assist the business community and individuals who are unemployed because of COVID-19. ReStart MS (mdes.ms.gov/restartms) provides employers with information on individuals who are currently filing or have previously filed for Unemployment Insurance benefits. MDES officials say this system will help prevent improper unemployment payments and play an essential role in reviving Mississippi's workforce. ReStart MS allows employers to report: • Rehires • Refusal of Work • Inability to Locate • Potential Fraudulent/ID Theft Claims Mississippi law requires employers to report refusals to work within 10 days of the date of refusal.
