Lauderdale County is under a shelter in place order to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. As MPB’s Kobee Vance reports, the county has seen a dramatic increase in cases over several days.
Residents of Lauderdale County are the first in the state to receive a stay at home order. Governor Tate Reeves issued the order yesterday because the county has seen a rapid increase in positive tests for the highly contagious coronavirus. He says residents are required to stay in their homes except for essential business.
“This order does require that all non-essential businesses and operations cease. It also allows for essential business operations to remain open, but all of those essential business operations have to continue to work to comply with the orders already in effect.”
Reeves and state epidemiologist, Dr. Paul Byers, said a nursing home in the county is considered a hot spot for the virus. They would not release the name of the nursing home but said employees, residents, families and others-- who have been in contact with the home-- have been notified. Dr. Byers says those testing positive for the virus are being asked to self-quarantine.
"There's the possibility that we're seeing community transmission. But there are places where we're also seeing cases linked to each other. Cases linked in family members, common sources, but in Lauderdale County, our investigations are still ongoing. That doesn't mean that there's not a common link. We have not identified it at this point."
Governor Reeves’s order for Lauderdale County- began last night and will last for two weeks.
While the county is the first to fall under this executive order, Reeves says the Department of Health will continue to monitor other counties and will issue similar orders as needed.
Kobee Vance, MPB News