We’re over a year and four months into the COVID-19 pandemic, and Mississippi has once again set a new record for cases in a single day.
This morning’s report of 3,488 new cases from the Mississippi State Department of Health surpasses the previous record set in January. With the confirmation of 36 additional deaths, 7,685 Mississippians have passed away from the virus, and State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs stated that the high case numbers will translate into more deaths in the coming days.
“Based on historical trends – this will translate into around 73 deaths in coming days, almost all preventable,” Dr. Dobbs tweeted this morning.
Hospitalizations continue to climb as well with the latest data from MSDH showing over 1,300 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and 345 of those patients are in the ICU. Dr. LouAnn Woodward with UMMC reported Monday that there were zero ICU beds available across the state.
This continued surge in cases continues as students return to the classroom for the beginning of a new school year. Mask mandates continue to be implemented by individual school districts as Governor Tate Reeves has continuously stated he will not enact such a mandate from the state level. The Rankin County School District became the latest to switch from an ‘optional’ mask policy to a mandate.
Dr. Dobbs expressed a sense of “irrepressible frustration” in his post this morning as state health officials continue to urge Mississippians to get the widely available and effective COVID-19 vaccine. Data continues to show that a majority of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths are among the unvaccinated.
Mississippi’s vaccination rate is currently at 35.2%—the second lowest in the country.
