Student cases rise by eight

There have been 30 positive cases of COVID-19 among students throughout Neshoba County and another five faculty and staff impacted, according to data from the Mississippi State Department of Health. 

The data have not been updated since Monday, Sept. 1 and specific schools are not named. 

According to MSDH, a total of 25 students in Neshoba County had been quarantined due to exposure during the week of Aug. 24-28. 

The state does not report which specific school districts are impacted and by how much, though both the Philadelphia Public School District and Neshoba County School District have confirmed cases.

On Tuesday, the state reported only 249 new cases and no new deaths, the first time in months there were no fatalities as a result of the virus.

Mississippi had its highest daily case numbers peak over 1,600 near the end of July.

In Neshoba County, 33 cases have been identified in the last week, bringing the total here to 1,468. That’s a 60 percent decrease in new positive cases when compared to two weeks ago. 

In total, 87,379 Mississippians have either been confirmed or presumed to have COVID-19, with 2,585 total deaths. The state’s total cases have risen by approximately 4,000 in the last week — over 1,000 less than the week before — and the death total climbed climbed by 92. Two weeks ago the death count rose by 245 in a week. 

As of Tuesday, the state reported 101 COVID-related deaths in Neshoba County, up one from 100 last week. In the last two weeks only two deaths have been attributed to the virus here. There have been 110 cases in long-term care facilities and 37 deaths.

The MSDH is reporting statewide that hospitalizations have declined from 662 to 608 since last week, with ICU patients down from 207 to 178. Ventilator usage dropped from 121 to 111.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has reported a total of 1,093 positive cases among Tribal members, with nearly half of those coming from the Pearl River community.

The Tribe only saw an increase of 10 positive cases within the last week. The Tribe has tested 4,511 members, with 3,346 negative results. Of the positive cases, 1,013 have recovered, 78 have died and four are still hospitalized.