Omicron responsible for uptick of COVID cases

Ten percent of all the COVID-19 cases reported in Neshoba County since the pandemic began in March 2020 occurred within the last week as the Omicron variant, a more contagious but milder form of the virus, rampages through the state. 

Neshoba County recorded 849 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths within the last week as the Omicron variant spreads, according to the MSDH.

Neshoba County has now recorded a total of 8,421 cases of COVID-19 and 211 deaths since the pandemic began.

A free COVID-19 testing location opened on Monday at the Coliseum and will operate five days a week, the state Department of Health announced.

The Neshoba County Coliseum, is located at 12000 Highway 15 north.

Schedule an appointment ahead of time at covidschedule.umc.edu.

Meanwhile, Tax Assessor/Collector Mike Lewis announced Monday that due to a couple of positive COVID tests, in his office, they will be unable to do Homestead Exemptions for a few days. 

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.  Homestead Exemption  must be filed before April 1st so we have plenty of time to complete this task,” Lewis said.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians reported 626 new positive cases of COVID-19 and two new deaths as of Jan. 16. The total number of positive cases for the Tribe now stands at 3,957, with 128 deaths. The Tribe reported one new hospitalization.

As of Jan. 10, 30% of Neshoba County is fully vaccinated, and 35% of people in the county have received at least one dose, according to the MSDH.

Statewide, as of Jan. 14, Mississippi has now recorded a total of 375,107 COVID-19 cases, with 281,977 probable cases, totaling 657,084 cases. There have been 7,117 deaths.