Thanksgiving guidelines issued as COVID mask order returns
Gov. Tate Reeves on Tuesday extended an executive order adding Neshoba County and 18 other counties under a mandatory mask ordinance due to the rise in COVID-19 cases.
Reeves and State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs also recommended that for Thanksgiving families have smaller gatherings — possibly outdoors — to help curb the spread.
Positive COVID-19 cases throughout the Neshoba County School District increased by 22 percent in the last two weeks, according to the latest report by the Mississippi State Department of Health.
The report, released on Tuesday, is for the school period from Nov. 16-20.
Neshoba Central Elementary is now reporting 20 positive cases amongst students and 13 amongst teachers and staff. Two weeks ago, there were 16 cases amongst students and 11 amongst teachers and staff.
Neshoba Central Middle School increased from 11 cases amongst students to 16 and Neshoba Central High School increased from 25 to 31 amongst students. There are less than 10 teachers and staff who have confirmed positive between those two schools.
Philadelphia Elementary and Philadelphia High School both reported no increase in cases in the last two weeks, with PHS reporting 18 cases amongst students and the elementary school with 1-5 cases.
Neshoba County’s overall COVID-19 numbers continue a roller coaster ride with ups and downs over the last couple of months, according to a The New York Times database.
The total cases here, as of Tuesday, were 2,164, an increase of 89 in a week. The state reported 115 COVID-related deaths in Neshoba County, an increase of four within the last week.
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has reported a total of 1,323 positive cases among Tribal members.
The Tribe saw an increase of 22 positive cases within the last week, a decrease from weeks prior.
The Tribe has tested 7,477 members, with 6,049 negative results. Of the positive cases, 1,199 have recovered, 85 have died and five remain hospitalized.
Mississippians who are diagnosed with COVID-19 are required by law to quarantine at home as are members of the same household under most cases, officials said.