Cars are circling the state Capitol while staff with the Mississippi Department of Health is conducting drive-thru coronavirus testing. The department of health said they began identifying cases in the legislature late last week. In a Facebook LIVE video yesterday afternoon, Governor Reeves says he’s come into close contact with at least one person who’s tested positive.
“This virus is real, it is dangerous and it is spreading very very rapidly,” said Reeves. “And not only in our state but in many states around our great country.”
Several lawmakers have tested positive for COVID-19 and others are ill, according to the department of health. Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn announced Sunday on Facebook he was in self-isolation after learning his results.
“Last week I was in close proximity to an individual... one of our house members who has tested positive. So I felt like I needed to go get myself tested and this morning was informed that I too have tested positive," Gunn said.
“I feel very fortunate that I don’t really have very many symptoms and feel fine.”
Gunn is the state’s highest-ranking political figure to publicly disclose a positive test for the virus. The presiding officer of the 122-member House has sometimes worn a mask and sometimes not.
Senator Hillman Frazier of Jackson is one of the dozens of people driving through the testing site at the Capitol. He says he’s seen some lawmakers not socially distancing or wearing masks while in close proximity to others on the house and senate floor.
"I think that as leaders we should set examples," said Frazier. "We know what should be done and we should do it."
"We should listen to health experts, follow their recommendations... Just do what’s right for the health and safety of our citizens," he said.
Mississippi has seen record coronavirus cases in recent weeks while the legislature was in session. The state's highest one-day total of new cases since the pandemic began was June 25 when the health department reported nearly 1100 cases.
