COVID-19 cases up by 11 cases in county

The number of cases of COVID-19 in Kemper County has increased by 11 this past week, according to statistics provided by the Mississippi Department of Health website.

Kemper County has 901 reported cases as of Monday, an increase of 11 in the past week. The county has 23 reported deaths, an increase of one.

Local residents are reminded that the Kemper County board of supervisors has extended its county-wide mask mandate through April 5.

The mandate was first passed last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been extended each month by the board.

It requires that masks be worn in public. Anyone who violates the ordinance, upon conviction, could face a $500 fine and/or six months in jail.

Mississippians are strongly encouraged to wear a mask, social distance, avoid large gatherings, and wash hands frequently. Vaccination is also encouraged for those who are eligible. Current eligibility includes Mississippi residents or those who work in Mississippi ages 65 and older, or those 16-64 with certain underlying conditions, healthcare personnel, and residents of long term care facilities.

The rate of the number of new cases has increased across the state this past week. According to health department numbers, there were 4,120 new cases reported in Mississippi in the past week.

There have been 294,994 cases reported in Mississippi since March 2020, and 6,681 reported deaths, an increase of 128 since last week.

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) advises Mississippians to please be patient in the coming days if there is a longer than usual wait time at our drive-through vaccination sites.

Please arrive for your vaccination appointment 15 minutes early, and please keep to your assigned appointment time.