County active COVID cases stay above 100
The threat of contracting coronavirus remains, and in spite of mask mandates being eased and people living a more normal lifestyle, people are still getting the virus and virus-related deaths continue to occur.
The Mississippi State Department of Health Monday reported the addition of 159 new cases of coronavirus to its state totals for the pandemic, a number that is now at 320,107 since March 2020.
Total virus-related deaths in Mississippi have now reached 7,378, or seven more since Sunday’s report.
Two of the virus-related victims were in DeSoto County, according to MSDH, for a total of 269 county deaths from coronavirus. MSDH did note, hoever, the two victims succumbed in the time period between March 29-June 9, verified by death certificate reports.
DeSoto County has reported a total of 22,291 cases of COVID-19 since March 2020, remaining the area of Mississippi with the highest number of cases reported. Hinds County was second with 20,741. Hinds remained the county with the most victims from COVID-19 at 421.
In his report to the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors Monday morning, County EMS Director Mark Davis said there remains more than 100 county residents who have COVID-19 at this time.
“Active cases, right now we have 120 in the county, which is down from last month,” Davis said, adding that seven-day and 10-day averages in DeSoto County are also down.
Davis said one of the reasons health officials continue to push for vaccinations is that it is possible to be vaccinated but still have the virus. However, the symptoms are much milder for those who may have it but were vaccinated, versus those who get coronavirus but were not given the vaccine.
“I know right now there’s an uptick in vaccinated people that are testing positive,” Davis said. “Most of those are found because they were getting ready to travel, they were required to be tested and they didn’t realize that they had it (coronavirus), even though they were vaccinated.”
Free vaccinations continue to be offered through the state health department in DeSoto County, at the Southaven Community Safe Room, next to the Southaven Arena on Highway 51 North, and at the DeSoto County Health Department, 3212 Highway 51 South in Hernando.
You may still schedule an appointment online or through the COVID-19 hotline at 877-978-6453, however the MSDH website said that no appointment is necessary at MSDH vaccination sites.
During Monday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Davis did recommend, and the supervisors agreed, to extend the coronavirus emergency in the county for another month, now set to end on July 19 unless further extended by the county board.
