More COVID cases but fewer deaths reported

More cases but fewer deaths from COVID-19 are being reported in the state of Mississippi. 

Statewide, an average of 229 cases per day were reported in Mississippi in the last week ending Dec. 3.  Cases have increased by 23 percent from the average two weeks ago, but deaths have decreased by 30 percent.

According to information from COVID Act Now, weekly new cases reported in DeSoto County through Dec. 3 average 67.6 cases per 100,000 population, or a total of 126 cases. Hospital admissions in the Memphis-DeSoto County Health Service Area totaled 92 during the week, or 6.9 per 100,000 population. In DeSoto County, 18.8 percent of COVID tests during the week were positive. The positive test rate does not include data on at-home positive tests. 

The county ranks 19th in Mississippi for weekly cases per capita, 16th in the state for weekly COVID admissions per capita, and ninth in Mississippi for percentage of patients with COVID-19 in hospital beds. An infection rate of 1.37 puts DeSoto County 15th in the state in that category.  

In DeSoto County, 125,516 people (67.9 percent) have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose, 105,837 (57.2 percent) have received at least two doses or a single Johnson & Johnson dose, and 39,948 (21.6 percent) have received a booster shot. Data indicates that fewer than 0.001 percent of people who have received a dose experienced a severe adverse reaction.

The Community Risk Level for DeSoto County is considered low, as it is for all of Mississippi’s counties with the exception of Alcorn, Tishomingo, and Pearl River counties, which are considered to be in a medium Community Risk Level.