(Image courtesy of UMMC)
Federal resources continue to arrive in Mississippi in the form of healthcare workers to assist with staff shortages in hospitals as the latest wave of the pandemic persists.
Governor Tate Reeves began a press conference this morning by explaining that over 1,000 healthcare workers are currently being deployed to 50 hospitals across the state with 11 more set to have their requests filled later in the week.
The resources that have arrived so far include:
- 808 nurses
- 3 certified registered nurse anesthetists
- 22 nurse practitioners
- 193 respiratory therapists
- 20 paramedics
Additionally two active-duty military medical teams have arrived in Mississippi—one in Jackson and the other in Tupelo. Multiple field hospitals have opened at UMMC to address capacity issues.
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Stephen McCraney detailed that the arrival of the additional personnel will open up 757 med surge beds and 247 ICU beds in the healthcare facilities.
As of this morning, 1,655 Mississippians were hospitalized with COVID-19 and 484 patients are in the ICU. While these figures remain at their highest points since the onset of the pandemic, State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers shared that Mississippi is beginning to see the early indications of a plateau in case numbers and hospitalizations.
Deaths saw a sharp increase today—111 reported—following the high case counts of the past few weeks. An overwhelming majority of cases, hospitalizations and deaths remain among the unvaccinated.
The number of vaccinations have increased in Mississippi in six straight weeks and Dr. Byers also touted the efficacy of the monoclonal antibody treatment for those who contract COVID-19.
Watch the full briefing below:
