Mississippi's daily new coronavirus cases have decreased over several weeks, and statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations have decreased by almost one third since late July. But health officials say the overall numbers are still too high. Dr. LouAnn Woodward is Vice-Chancellor of Health Affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She says the hospital is still operating at maximum capacity. "Whether or not we're in a pandemic, people are having wrecks, people are having heart attacks and strokes and other things," says Dr. Woodward. "So we're actually still full, right now, but our number of COVID-19 patients has declined."
Experts are also concerned about a possible resurgence in new coronavirus cases in the fall. Dr. Mark Horne, President of the Mississippi State Medical Association, says with students returning to classrooms and the return fall weather, there will likely be a second wave of the virus. "I think most of the schools that I've been to and seen are doing a really good job, but there is every reason to believe, based on past experience with this disease and other viruses, that going back to school is gonna cause a rise in cases," says Dr. Horne. "So there's every reason to believe that we're not through this yet, we're gonna have a second wave, and we need to be ready for that."
Dozens of coronavirus vaccine trials are being conducted around the world. The Hattiesburg Clinic is participating in one, and Dr. Woodward says UMMC will begin their own trial soon. "And really it's been miraculous thinking about the timeline and how much investment has been put into this. It's not gonna be the answer to all of our problems, but it certainly will help," says Dr. Woodward.
Dr. Woodward says she's hopeful that a vaccine could be ready for public use early next year.
