The state’s number of new COVID-19 cases is back over 1,600.
After one day below 1,000, the Department of Health is reporting 1,610 new cases of coronavirus in Mississippi. This brings the state’s total up to 49,663. With the confirmation of *28 additional deaths, 1,463 Mississippians have passed away from the virus.
*MSDH Note – 11 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths occurred between July 5 and July 17, identified from death certificate reports.
While hospitalizations rose to 975 in today’s report, ICU bed usage did see a needed decline.
The number of active outbreaks in Mississippi long-term care facilities did rise to 183. Thursday, Governor Tate Reeves and State Health Officer Sr. Thomas Dobbs discussed how community transmission could be driving this increase as younger Mississippians spread the virus to their parents and grandparents.
Also during Thursday’s press briefing, the governor previewed an incoming order that will place restrictions on bars across the state to slow the spread among Mississippi’s 18-29-year-old population.
Later today, more counties will also be added to the executive order placing hotspot areas under mask mandates and additional social distancing guidelines. Currently, 23 counties are already included in the order.
