Six Mississippians have died from the Coronavirus and the state health department says the number of cases has climbed to 485. As MPB’s Desare Frazier reports, the state health officer says they’re taking a more aggressive approach in fighting the virus.
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs, says they are going on the offensive against the Coronavirus. He says they have enough supplies, protective equipment and staff to investigate individual cases-- a strategy he says proved effective in containing the virus in South Korea and Singapore. He says they’ll go into communities and place those with the virus under quarantine.
“Your eyes on them making sure that you know who they are and they’re properly isolated, make sure they have the proper legal order so they understand what their requirements are and then from that point doing aggressive contact investigation so that we then identify that second tier of individuals who are likely to be the next generation of infection,” said Dobbs.
Dobbs says using that method healthcare providers can locate people who came in contact with the infected person. He says their strategy is to shut down areas where there’s an outbreak.
“Implement more aggressive social distancing and isolation strategies such as maybe a temporary period of shelter in place order. Such that people in that community have a time limited period when they know they need to shelter in place but has an end date,” said Dobbs.
Dr. Dobbs warns this is just the beginning of the virus spreading in the state. He says they are two free drive through test sites set up for today only in Desoto and Coahoma Counties.