Face mask order issued again

Face mask order issued again

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Neshoba is among nine counties requiring face masks and limiting social gatherings in an effort to combat a surge in COVID-19 cases, Gov. Tate Reeves announced Monday.

A new executive order signed by Reeves limits indoor social gatherings to groups of 10 and outdoor events to groups of 50. Face coverings are required while indoors and interacting with the public. 

The increased guidelines come at a time when COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the state with increases here in Neshoba County over the last week. 

The other counties included in the executive order are Chickasaw, Claiborne, De Soto, Forrest, Itawamba, Jackson, Lamar and Lee.

In addition to the limit on gatherings, Reeves’ executive order mandates that healthcare facilities in the state reserve 10 percent capacity for COVID-19 patients.

“We’ve seen this before,” Reeves said Monday. “We know what can happen if we allow this to get out of control, and so we want to be proactive to prevent that from happening. None of these elements are silver bullets. None of them will totally eliminate the virus. We have to allow for life to go on in the meantime. As we wait for a vaccine, our mission is the same as it ever was: to prevent our healthcare system from being overwhelmed. That has to be the focus.”

A report from the Mississippi State Department of Health released on Oct. 14, shows a total of 45 COVID cases in the Neshoba County School District since classes began in August. Twelve cases have been reported at the elementary school, nine at the middle school, and 24 at the high school. 

For the week of Oct. 5-9, the district had 27 students quarantined. 

Philadelphia High School previously reported 16 positive cases, with 1-5 at the elementary school. The district was absent from the Oct. 14 report. 

Cases in Neshoba County are on the rise over the past couple of weeks.

The total cases here, as of Monday, was 1,806. The state reported 111 COVID-related deaths in Neshoba County, up two from last week. There have been 130 cases in long-term care facilities in Neshoba County and 39 deaths.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has reported a total of 1,184 positive cases among Tribal members, with nearly half of those coming from the Pearl River community.

The Tribe saw an increase of 15 positive cases within the last week. The Tribe has tested 6,057 members, with 4,775 negative results. Of the positive cases, 1,076 have recovered, 84 have died and four remain hospitalized. Two Tribal members have died within the last week.

See the new order in full on the Democrat’s website at neshobademocrat.com. 






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