COVID cases increase by 19

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 643 reported cases as of Monday, an increase of 16. The county has 19 reported deaths, the same last week.

Vaccinations are being distributed nationwide and some have reached Mississippi. 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.

The number of new cases has continued to grow across the state. According to health department numbers, there were 16,053 new cases in Mississippi in the past week. There have been 208,089 cases reported in Mississippi since March and 4,634 reported deaths, an increase of 223 since last week.

If you are feeling unwell, you are urged to go and get tested.

MSDH urgently recommends that all residents of Mississippi avoid any social gathering that includes individuals outside of the immediate family or household. MSDH recommends that Mississippians only participate in work, school or other absolutely essential activities, and avoid gatherings such as social events, sporting events, in-person church services, and weddings and funerals unless they involve only close family (preferably outdoors).

Gov. Tate Reeves in an executive order has included Kemper County on the list of counties with special restricts. Residents are limited to 10 people 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.