The Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting the state’s largest one-day rise in the number of new COVID-19 cases.
418 new cases bring the state’s total number of cases up to 14,710. The previous high of 404 was set back on May 8th. 710 Mississippians have passed away due to the virus with this morning’s confirmation of 17 additional deaths.
*MSDH Note – 4 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths between May 11 and May 15 were identified through death certificate reports.
130 outbreaks have been confirmed in Mississippi long-term care facilities. The MSDH defines an outbreak as “one or more cases among staff or residents.”
To date, 158,973 Mississippians have been tested for COVID-19 and 9,401 people have recovered (as of Monday).
Starting June 1, all businesses in Mississippi that remain closed will be allowed to reopen under the Governor’s ‘Safe Return’ order. With that said, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs says that it’s up to the public to make smart choices as government orders expire.
“As we kind of go to a more opening posture letting people get back to some normalcy, there’s a safe way to do it and an unsafe way to do it,” Dobbs said. “There’s a balance of getting businesses operating, but it can happen in the context of us doing the simple, safe thing of maintaining six feet in distance.”
Dr. Dobbs also encourages everyone to wear a mask while out in public.
For additional data from the MSDH, click here.
