Expect to see expanded state COVID-19 mandates Monday

Expect Gov. Tate Reeves to extend the Safe Return order as well as the order for 13 counties with rapidly growing COVID-19 case counts Monday.

Both orders expired as of 8 a.m. Monday; however, in his live update Friday, Reeves indicated both would be extended. He also indicated additional counties could be added to those with expanded restrictions including mask mandates and limiting the numbers of people in gatherings.

The criteria for adding counties to the list are 200 new cases within the last 14 days or having had an average of 500 cases per 100,000 residents over that time.

The 13 counties with expanded restrictions as of July 9 are Claiborne, DeSoto, Grenada, Harrison, Hinds, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Quitman, Rankin, Sunflower, Washington and Wayne.

Friday, Reeves listed 12 additional counties for possible inclusion on Monday’s mandate: Bolivar, Covington, Forrest, Humphreys, Jones, Lamar, Panola, Sharkey, Simpson, Tallahatchie, Tate and Walthall counties.

Last week, Mississippi had four consecutive days where more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported. The seven-day average for the week ending July 18 reached a record high in the state of 918 news cases per day, an increase of 241 cases per day over the previous week.

Mississippi has recorded more cases since July 1 than it did from March 11, when the first case was confirmed in the state, through May 31.

Hospitalizations are also at record highs, with more than 1,100 Mississippians with confirmed and suspected cases of the virus. Numerous hospitals have run out of ICU beds and some are sending critically ill patients out of state for care.

The governor’s next live news conference is Monday at 2:30 p.m.