This past Monday, Governor Tate Reeves began his press conference by thanking the people of Mississippi for their resolve in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak.
He stated, “It is not easy, it is not fair and it is not over. We have to keep fighting the coronavirus.” Reeves added that ‘we all want to move on, but we must stay vigilant.”
He did, however, announce some steps that will further reopen businesses and society in general by easing some of the restrictions in the ‘Safer at Home’ order which is set to expire on Monday, May 11.
One of the revisions will open access to more outdoor spaces, by allowing ‘outdoor gatherings only’ of up to 20 people. Reeves stated that this should be enough to allow children to gather with a team and begin to practice sports. Parents, or those accompanying children, must remain in their vehicles, and social distancing must be maintained.
Reeves acknowledged that there are thousands of restaurants around the state that are about to close their doors for good, and these establishments have been some of the hardest hit.
A revision to ‘Safer at Home’ will now allow ‘outdoor and in-room dining’ with strict social distancing guidelines. Servers must wear masks and restaurants can only operate at 50% capacity.
However, salons and barbershops must remain closed. Reeves stated that he has instructed his staff to come up with a way to get CARES ACT funds to these establishments to help keep them afloat, recognizing that it is not enough, but it is something.
May 4 COVID-19 MSDH update
The Mississippi Department of Health reported at 2 p.m. on May 4, 327 new cases and 7 new deaths as of 6pm May 3, 2020. The totals are now 7,877 COVID-19 positive persons in the state with 310 deaths. Cases reported to the MSDH after 6 p.m. will be reported later.
The number of Mississippians currently hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 infection is at 442.
Twenty-six of the new cases reported today were among residents in long-term care facilities, and there are now 109 active outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities (where an outbreak is one or more cases among residents or staff).
Choctaw County has 14 cases with 1 death, Webster County has 20 cases and 1 death and Winston County has 49 cases with no deaths.
