Road to a Gentleman’s Surrender: Gov. Tate Reeves Strikes Hard, Then Bows to Legislature
To hear it from (Tate) Reeves, the Legislature fiddled while Mississippi burned, gambling with the lives and livelihoods of its people through unnecessary legalistic dissembling.
COVID-19 Update: Hospitalizations Down, Almost Half State Deaths in Care Facilities
State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs displayed cautious optimism at yesterday’s coronavirus presser, based on a slackening in hospitalizations statewide.
COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations Slump Today as Mississippi Continues to Reopen
Gov. Tate Reeves’ safer-at-home order continues this week, with notable exceptions, as the Mississippi State Department of Health announces 173 new cases of COVID-19 and five new deaths from Sunday reports.
As COVID-19 Cases Hit New High, Legislature Prevails Over Governor In CARES Act Battle
The same day the fight over control of $1.25 billion in CARES Act relief funds for Mississippi appeared to end, giving the legislative branch a win, Mississippi suffered its greatest increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 yet in one day.
Two Days of Record COVID-19 Deaths Precede Mississippi Reopening
Mississippi is on track to reopen its parks and restaurants today, as what Gov. Tate Reeves calls the COVID-19 “plateau” continues. This morning, MSDH reported 262 new cases of coronavirus disease detected yesterday, as well as 22 deaths
COVID-19 Growing Near State’s Meat Processing Plants
Gov. Tate Reeves acknowledges that cases of coronavirus disease are spiking near the state’s meatpacking industries, and reminded Mississippians that immunocompromised and elderly residents are still under a shelter-at-home order.
UPDATE: 32 Deaths From COVID-19 Reported In One Day As State Reopens
Thirty-two more Mississippians have died as a result of COVID-19, 18 of those from yesterday alone: the largest single-day death toll in the crisis so far.
UPDATED: Reeves: State Will Continue Reopening, Despite Not Meeting White House Criteria
The steady reopening of Mississippi will continue today, at odds with White House gating criteria and the concerns of many health experts in Mississippi and abroad.
Bipartisan Legislative Supermajority Takes Control of CARES Act Money
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and House Speaker Philip Gunn led a legislative supermajority to claim $1.25 billion in federal CARES Act funds today, dealing a humbling blow to the authority of Gov. Tate Reeves months into his first term.
Hosemann, Gunn Lead Bipartisan Fight With Governor to Control CARES Funds
Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and House Speaker Philip Gunn and a raft of legislators from both parties returned to the Capitol today to reassert legislative control over the purse strings of Mississippi, in direct conflict with Gov. Tate Reeves, also a Republican.
Black Women Over-represented as COVID-19 Cases Jump to 397 Today
In spite of hopes for a plateau preceding a decline of new COVID-19 cases, the Mississippi Department of Health reported a record 397 new cases of coronavirus disease today, a sharp spike from previous weeks, during which the average daily increase hovered around 200.
Gov. Tate Reeves Vows Fight to Control $1.25 Billion in Federal CARES Act Funds
Gov. Tate Reeves insisted at an afternoon press conference that he possessed the authority, through state statute, to spend the federal relief money intended for COVID-19 recovery. Legislative leadership plans to challenge that authority when they reconvene Friday afternoon.
Legislature Asserts Control Over CARES Act Funds by Early Return
The Mississippi Legislature will reconvene on Monday, “if not sooner,” Senate Minority Leader Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, told the Jackson Free Press today. The Legislature’s lightning-quick return comes weeks in advance of its anticipated date of May 18.
Unemployed Mississippians Still Seeking Answers, Relief
March signaled the beginning of the unemployment crisis in Mississippi, as the first reports of COVID-19 led to the initial rounds of social-distancing guidelines.
Shelter Order Softens on Day of 248 New Cases of COVID-19
On Monday, Reeves recapped his “safer at home” order, replacing his April 1 shelter-in-place order for two weeks. The order went into effect at 8 a.m. on April 27 and lasts until 8 a.m. on May 11.
Factcheck: Gov. Reeves’ South Korea Comparison on MSNBC’s ‘Meet the Press’
Appearing on MSNBC’s “Meet the Press” last night, Gov. Tate Reeves explained to host Chuck Todd what he believes are Mississippi’s successes in emulating the South Korean model, which has so effectively contained the COVID-19 outbreak there.
Black Women May Be Hardest Hit As COVID-19 Cases Pass 5,000, 201 Deaths
Mississippi now has more than 200 deaths and well over 5,000 cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday, only five days after reaching 4,000.
Q&A with Dr. Thomas Dobbs on Racial Inequity of COVID-19 in Mississippi
Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs is leading the public-health response to the COVID-19 crisis, directing the State Department of Health and serving as Gov. Tate Reeves’ chief health adviser on the virus and the state’s attempts to stem its spread.
Gov. Reeves Says Virus At ‘Plateau’; State Reports Most Deaths in Single Day
Gov. Tate Reeves described the recent uptick in cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi as a “plateau,” suggesting that Mississippians should expect a continuing trend of high numbers in before new infections level off and decline.
Mississippi Sees 238 New Cases of COVID-19, More Mobile Testing Sites
Today’s Mississippi COVID-19 case tally included 238 additional Mississippians, down from the previous day’s all-time peak of 300. The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 4,512 total detections of coronavirus in the state since March 11.
Tate Reeves: Shelter in Place Another Week, ‘Union Bosses’ Not Needed
Gov. Tate Reeves extended the shelter-in-place order he issued at the end of March for another week today, while making allowances for limited operations at “non-essential” businesses and opening the state’s beaches and lakes starting Monday.
Shelter Order Set to Expire Monday; State Reports 3,624 Cases of COVID-19
Mississippi has 264 new cases of COVID-19 today, after 273 yesterday, bringing the statewide total to 3,624 only two days after the state announced its 3,000th case.
Essential Workers Bearing Weight of COVID-19
Commercial unions are fighting for recognition of their food-service and grocery-store employees as first responders, in the hopes that this will give them priority access to PPE, including masks.
State Tops 3,000 COVID-19 Cases and 100 Deaths, More Race Data Soon
Mississippi saw 145 new cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday, bringing the new statewide total to 3,087, only seven days after the 2,000th detection on April 7.
257 New COVID-19 Cases in Mississippi, Easter Services 'Voluntary’ Under Order
Mississippi saw a record 257 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the official statewide total to 2,260, the Mississippi State Department of Health announced this morning.
Black Mississippians Suffered 72% of COVID-19 Deaths; Many Tests Don’t Track Race
More than half of all Mississippians currently diagnosed with COVID-19 and nearly three-fourths of the virus’ current casualties are African American, the Mississippi State Department of Health revealed today.
MSDH Reports 177 New COVID-19 Cases, 8 Deaths, Pediatric Info
Mississippi saw 177 new official cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday evening, a number close to the peak infections for a single day.
COVID-19 Affects Black Mississippians Disproportionately; MDOC Workers Test Positive
Two employees of the Mississippi Department of Corrections have tested positive for COVID-19, and a prisoner is awaiting the results of a test for the novel coronavirus, Gov. Tate Reeves said at a press event April 6.
April 6: State Shares More Testing Data, Reports 100 New COVID-19 Cases, 8 Deaths
Cases of the novel coronavirus in Mississippi are now at 1,738 as the first full week of shelter-at-home begins statewide, with the Mississippi State Department of Health announcing a steady increase of 100 new cases since yesterday.
COVID-19 Curve Still Rising in Mississippi With 181 New Cases, 3 Deaths
Mississippi saw its biggest increase in novel coronavirus cases in a single 24-hour period today with 181 new cases and 3 deaths for a total. The Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting 1,358 Mississippians diagnosed with COVID-19 as of April 2.
Governor Does About-Face, Issues Statewide ‘Shelter In Place’ For Mississippi
In an overnight about-face, Gov. Tate Reeves signed a long-awaited executive order today closing non-essential businesses and directing all Mississippians to shelter at home between Friday, April 3, and Monday, April 20, to help lessen the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Reeves to Issue Shelter-in-Place as COVID-19 Cases Swell to 1,073 in Mississippi
Gov. Tate Reeves is expected to become one of the last governors in the U.S. to issue a statewide shelter-at-home order for the next two weeks after a reassessment of the current piecemeal lockdown strategy.
What is Social Distancing?
Social distancing is more than just a single action. It is a different way of living. El distanciamiento social es mucho más que una acción: Es una manera diferente de vivir.
COVID-19: Can Mississippi Imitate South Korea?
As COVID-19 has spread across the globe, the primary fear of observers worldwide is the threat of collapse of the health-care system. More severe infections than a state’s intensive-care units have the capacity to treat will dramatically increase the risk of death.
Governor Orders ‘Shelter In Place’ For Lauderdale as Virus Affects 76 Counties
Largely due to rapid localized spread of COVID-19 over several days, Gov. Tate Reeves signed an executive order today laying down a shelter-in-place order for Lauderdale County, which includes the city of Meridian, “and each and every one of the municipalities therein,” the governor said.
Monday, March 30: 847 Detected Cases of COVID-19 in State, Total Tested Roughly 8,000
The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 89 new cases of COVID-19 across the state today, up to 847 from 758 yesterday.
MSDH Announces 'South Korea' Strategy, Governor Clarifies Executive Order
The time for playing defense against COVID-19 is over, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs declared Thursday in front of the governor’s mansion in downtown Jackson.
108 New Cases of COVID-19, Largest Increase So Far
As controversy swirls in Mississippi over Gov. Tate Reeves’ refusal to issue a “Shelter in Place” order, the state has 108 additional cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday, March 25, at 6 p.m.
Governor Orders Limited Gatherings, Declares Most Businesses 'Essential,' Supersedes Local Safety Efforts
Gov. Tate Reeves signed an executive order early this evening expanding the bans on large public gatherings in Mississippi, while declaring most types of businesses “essential” and, thus, exempt from its provisions.
Governor: Wait-and-See on State Lockdown Despite 71 New COVID-19 Cases
Gov. Tate Reeves again rejected calls for a statewide lockdown at a press conference outside the governor’s mansion today in downtown Jackson, saying that “no expert had yet recommended” such an enforced quarantine.
Governor Rejects State Lockdown For COVID-19: ‘Mississippi's Never Going to Be China’
Gov. Tate Reeves rejected calls today for a statewide shelter-at-home order, a measure of caution against the spread of COVID-19 being rapidly deployed next door in Louisiana, elsewhere in the United States and across the globe.
Governor Under Fire as COVID-19 Spreads, Testing Begins at Fairgrounds
The Mississippi State Department of Health begins drive-thru testing today at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, in partnership with the University of Mississippi Medical Center and wireless provider C-Spire.
Saturday, March 22: 60 New COVID-19 Cases in Mississippi, Spread Across Age Groups
The Mississippi State Department of Health announced 60 new cases of COVID-19 this morning, March 21, bringing the statewide total to 140. The cases are mostly women and spread across adult age brackets.
More COVID-19 Testing Sites, Public and Private, Available in Jackson Area
Mississippians will have access to a central COVID-19 testing location at the State Fairgrounds in Jackson starting Monday.
Rankin, 10 Other Counties Join List of 80 Cases of COVID-19 in State, One Dead
This morning, The Mississippi State Department of Health added 30 new cases to its daily roster of COVID-19 cases in the state, considered “presumptive” until the Centers for Disease Control confirms the positive tests.
OPINION: Message from a COVID-19 Reporter: We Need Patience, Discipline, Fortitude
Jackson Free Press reporter Nick Judin, who is reporting the seriousness of the growing coronavirus epidemic, warns to not take this moment in history for granted.
50 COVID-19 Cases Now as UMMC Works to Develop Own Test for 'Tidal Wave' Virus
“We are ramping up all of our contingency planning to be prepared for a tidal wave of patients that we know is about to hit us,” UMMC Department of Emergency Chairman Dr. Alan Jones warned.
Delta, North Mississippi Hit Hardest by 13 New Presumptive COVID-19 Cases
The Mississippi Department of Health announced 13 new presumptive cases of the novel coronavirus this morning with cases in several Delta counties up to Desoto County in north Mississippi. No new Hinds cases showed up today—it is still at six—but nearby Madison County joined the list.
COVID-19 in Mississippi, Indepth: A Primer
COVID-19 is here. And as the United States virtually shuts down amid fears of an overwhelmed health-care system and an unchecked pandemic, understanding the virus, its history, and how to mitigate its effects becomes an issue of national and local importance.
Mississippi COVID-19 Cases Rise to 21 with 6 in Hinds, National Guard Activated
The day after Gov. Tate Reeves activated the National Guard to help, the number of officially confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Mississippi rose to 21 on the Mississippi State Department of Health's website.