COVID-19 in Mississippi: Spike in cases, rise in death toll reported Wednesday
Wilton JacksonThe Mississippi Department of Health reported 45 new coronavirus deaths and 1,081 new cases Wednesday, bringing the state total to 69,374 cases and 1,989 deaths.
Wednesday marks the first time this week of more than 1,000 cases for the state. Before Wednesday, there was decline in cases as MSDH reported 644 on Tuesday, 476 on Monday and 527 cases on Sunday. The health department last reported 1,000 or more cases Saturday with 1,210 and 26 deaths.
The number of deaths rose Wednesday with 45, seven shy of the state record of 52 that was reported on July 31. From Sunday to Tuesday, the health department reported 71 total deaths.
COVID-19 in Mississippi:644 new cases, 33 new deaths reported Tuesday
There were a total 179 outbreaks reported at long-term care facilities.
Wednesday's updated statistics show 4,159 Mississippians in long-term care have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 854 have died.
Reporting of COVID-19 cases and deaths by age group and hospitalized cases by age, last updated Monday on the health department's website, shows the age group with the highest concentration of cases has been in the Jackson metro area and in North Mississippi, near Memphis, and now on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Hinds County, with the largest population in the state, has the highest number of COVID-19 cases with 5,768, followed by DeSoto County with 3,753 confirmed cases. Harrison County on the Mississippi Gulf Coast now ranks third with 2,651 cases, followed by Madison County with 2,489 confirmed cases as of Wednesday.
Mississippians in the 60 to 69 age bracket make up the largest number of hospitalizations with 1,068. Those in the 70 to 79 age bracket make up the largest number of deaths with 517.
By far, those in the 18 to 29 age group have the highest number of confirmed cases in the state with 14,341. Eleven people in that age bracket have died of the virus.
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said positive cases of the virus have surged in recent weeks in the that demographic. Most will recover from the virus, but run the risk of exposing those in older age groups and those who are most vulnerable.
The number of cases in children in Mississippi under the age of 18 continues to rise with 6,755 and 64 children have been hospitalized due to the virus. The under 18 age bracket is the only group that has not had a coronavirus death.
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Gov. Tate Reeves ordered a two-week statewide mask mandate Aug. 4 that requires every Mississippian to wear a mask at public gatherings and when shopping. Reeves also ordered schools in eight counties to delay the return of older students.
On Monday, 22 schools reported COVID-19 cases, according to Dobbs, with 19 cases among students and 15 cases among employees for a total of 34 cases.
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Jackson metro area cases, deaths
Hinds County
Daily number of new deaths: 2
Daily number of new cases: 68
Total deaths: 121
Total cases: 5,768
Madison County
Daily number of new deaths: 3
Daily number of new cases: 34
Total deaths: 72
Total cases: 2,489
Rankin County
Daily number of new deaths: 3
Daily number of new cases: 15
Total deaths: 38
Total cases: 2,322
An estimated 49,836 people are presumed recovered from COVID-19, the Health Department said. A person is presumed recovered if it's been 14 days since he or she tested positive and was not hospitalized or 21 days if hospitalization was involved. The estimated number of recoveries is updated weekly.
Contact Wilton Jackson at @wcjackson@gannett.com. Follow him on Facebook and @wiltonreports on Twitter.