602 COVID-19 cases reported in Kemper County
Compiled by Steve Swogetinsky
The Kemper Messenger
The number of cases of COVID-19 in Kemper County has continued to increase, according to statistics provided by the Mississippi Department of Health website.
Kemper County has 602 reported cases as of Monday, an increase of 78. The county has 19 reported deaths, the same last week.
The number of new cases has grown across the state. According to health department numbers, there were 13,253 new cases in Mississippi in the past week. There have been 179,447 cases reported in Mississippi since March and 4,238, reported deaths, an increase of 238 since last week.
Vaccination medicine is being distributed nationwide and has reached Mississippi this week. The shots will be distributed in the coming days to front line medical works, the elderly and most vulnerable persons and nursing home patients first.
COVID-19 is a new respiratory virus that causes flu-like illness ranging from mild to severe, with symptoms of fever, coughing, fatigue and difficulty breathing. Like the flu, COVID-19 spreads person-to-person by close contact (within 6 feet) and by coughing or sneezing. COVID-19 may also spread by touching surfaces contaminated by the virus.
If you are feeling unwell, you are urged to go and get tested.
Gov. Tate Reeves in an executive order has included Kemper County on the list of counties with special restricts. Residents are limited to 10 indoors, and 50 outdoors in situations where social distancing is not possible. Masks must be worn indoors in public places when a distance of six feet cannot be maintained between groups from different households. This order will expire January 15.
A county-wide mandate has been reissued by the Kemper County board of supervisors requiring that masks be worn in public. It goes through January 4. Anyone who violates the ordinance, upon conviction, could face a $500 fine and/or six months in jail.
The ordinance also closes county owned parks, walking trails and access to Kemper Lake.
Offices in the Courthouse will be operated with minimum staff and elected officials are encouraged to do as much business online as possible.
With the number of cases growing, health officials urged people to avoid large holiday gatherings during the Christmas season.
In order to protect the more vulnerable population, health department officials have strongly suggested that travel be avoided and for people to stay home.
People at risk for serious illness from COVID-19 are adults 65 and over, those who are obese, those with a chronic illness such as heart disease, diabetes or lung disease, and anyone receiving treatments which may compromise their immune system.
According to the health department, these people should take precautions at all times to limit their exposure to others who may be ill:
• Stay home as much as possible.
• Limit your contact with others when you are away from home, especially in indoor settings.
• Limit your contact with visitors and with other members of your household who are frequently in public places.
• Keep more space (6 feet if possible) between you and others as you go through the day.
• If you do go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, and practice consistent social distancing. Pay closer attention to hygiene and cleanliness.
• Wash your hands often, especially after being in public places.