This past Friday, Governor Tate Reeves issuded a ‘Safer at Home’ order which eases back on some of the restrictions of the ‘Shelter in Place’ order which will begin to allow some businesses to reopen, but keeps other restrictions in place. ‘Safer at Home’ is a statewide order which went into effect this past Monday morning at 8 a.m. and is set to remain in place for two weeks.
Ackerman and Choctaw County are adhering to the state orders.
The order states that the most vulnerable individuals will continue to shelter in place, the elderly, those with pre-existing health conditions and compromised immune systems, and Reeves urged everyone to stay home except for essential travel. The order bans all social and non-essential gatherings of 10 or more people, and businesses which act as gathering places remain closed; movie theaters, bars and museums. Schools and casinos remain closed, as well as businesses that cannot avoid sustained person-to-person contact; salons, gyms, clubs, spas, tattoo parlors, barber shops.
Retail outlets may reopen but at only 50% of their maximum capacity and must follow CDC and health department guidelines; sending sick employees home, social distancing, screening symptoms. Common areas which act as a gathering place shall remain closed.
Restaurants may still operate on a drive-through, carry-out or delivery basis. Evictions are prohibited as all Mississippians are still urged to remain at home. Healthcare facilities may begin to perform more procedures under rules set forth by the State Health Department.
Reeves stated that ‘Safer at Home’ is not a return to normal, but that day will come but the State of Mississippi is not quite there yet.
Reeves compared it to a dimmer switch rather than a flipping on switch.
Local coronavirus cases stand at 13
Choctaw County has seen no new cases of COVID-19 since last week, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health.
The agency reported Monday that the county still had 13 cases of the new coronavirus, a number that has stood since April 21. None of those are in long-term care facilities.
Mississippi's total COVID-19 cases since March 11 is now over 6,000, with about 230 deaths.
