Mississippi Mandates Masks in Parts of State as it Sees ‘Worst’ of COVID-19 Spread

A mask mandate and other restrictions took effect Monday in 13 of Mississippi’s 82 counties as the state continues to see a rapid increase in cases of the new coronavirus, including a steady rise in hospital patients.

“This is the worst that it’s ever been for spread of cases in our state,” Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said during a news conference Monday.

Figures released Monday by the state Health Department showed 1,020 people were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 Sunday. That is up from 664 on June 22.

The state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said eight hospitals in Mississippi had no beds available in their intensive care units as of Monday. Four of those were in the Jackson area. He also said long-term care facilities are seeing an increase of cases because of transmission in communities. Even if people can’t visit loved ones in nursing homes, employees go in and out.

“We’re all connected,” Dobbs said. “If you’re 20 years old and you’re bored of sitting around at home, you know, you going out and partying and may inadvertently kill somebody else’s grandma in the nursing home as you perpetuate the pandemic.”

Reeves set restrictions in counties with high levels of virus transmission. They include some of the most heavily populated in the state – Hinds, Madison and Rankin in the Jackson area, DeSoto County in the north and Harrison and Jackson counties on the coast. The restrictions are also in effect in smaller counties with high rates of the virus – Claiborne, Grenada, Jefferson, Quitman, Sunflower, Washington and Wayne.

People in those 13 counties must wear masks in public, including in outdoor settings where it’s not possible for people to remain at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) apart. Gatherings indoors are limited to 10 people and those outdoors are limited to 20.

Reeves said he could set the restrictions in more counties that are also seeing a rapid spread of cases, but he is still not planning a statewide mask requirement.

Reeves said wearing a mask in public is not foolproof, but it can help slow the spread of the virus. He said he has heard about “mask shaming” directed at people who cover their faces and at people who don’t.

“That is not helping,” Reeves said.

Mississippi has a population of about 3 million. The Health Department said Monday that the state has had at least 36,680 confirmed cases and at least 1,250 deaths from the coronavirus as of Sunday evening. That was an increase of 393 cases and one death from numbers reported the day before.

The department said at least 3,000 cases of the virus have been confirmed in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, with at least 604 virus-related deaths in those facilities.

The number of virus infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick. While most people who contract the coronavirus recover after suffering only mild to moderate symptoms, it can be deadly for older patients and those with other health problems.