16 out of Mississippi’s 82 counties are under a mask mandate as coronavirus cases increase across the state. The seven additional include Harrison, Madison, Marshall, Jones, Carroll, Leake and Benton counties. Governor Tate Reeves says these counties exceeded benchmarks over a two week period that led to the restrictions. But, he says there are other counties with high transmission rates that are not on the list. "Last week, of those three central Mississippi county, Hinds, Rankin and Madison, Madison was the least likely to actually meet the threshold this week," says Reeves. "Madison met the threshold, Hinds and Rankin did not. But both of them could very easily meet the criteria in the coming days."
Hospitalizations in Mississippi that are not connected to the coronavirus remain high, and six major hospitals in the state have no intensive care beds available. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs says hospitals are working towards creating more space, but people seeking intensive care may be diverted out of state if hospitalizations continue to increase. "Definitely don't panic, but don't get COVID-19. Right? Just do the simple things we know. Small groups, outdoors, wear a mask. Those basic things. I mean the main thing is just stay healthy, and get a flu shot," says Dr. Dobbs. "Now's your time, end of October is the end of the CDC's recommended time period. So please go and get a flu shot if you haven't had one. I've gotten mine, everyone needs to do it."
Voters in counties with mask mandates will not be required to wear a mask at polling locations.
