County COVID-19 cases surpass 18,000
Wednesday, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reported an additional 2,074 cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi and 65 deaths.
Twenty-nine deaths occurred between Jan. 9 and Jan. 26, and 36 occurred between Nov. 13 and Jan. 20, identified from death certificate reports. Mississippi’s total of COVID-19 cases now stands at 268,672, with 5,917 deaths.
Among cases and deaths already reported, MSDH has identified 30 new cases in residents of long-term care facilities, and three deaths. There are currently 195 ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities.
The latest COVID-19 vaccination information, guidance and protective steps are online at https://msdh.ms.gov/covid-19.
The Mississippi Coronavirus Hotline is the best way to get questions about COVID-19 answered. Call 877-978-6453 between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
DeSoto County case numbers passed the 18,000 mark with Wednesday morning’s update, now at 18,020 positive cases of the virus. There have also been three new deaths reported in the county, growing that number now to 198 virus-related deaths.
As far as hospital bed space is concerned in DeSoto County, Methodist-Olive Branch Hospital reported one intensive care unit bed was available and no staff beds. Methodist had 15 COVID-19 patients being treated there and seven more were in intensive care.
At Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto in Southaven, there were beds listed as available and the hospital had 58 coronavirus patients and seven more patients in intensive care.
Statewide, hospitalizations for coronavirus have been trending downward, from 1,433 patients hospitalized with confirmed coronavirus on Jan. 5 to 975 hospitalized on Jan. 25.
There were 348 intensive care patients with coronavirus in Mississippi hospitals on Jan. 7. The number is now at 247 and has been downward from 308 ICU coronavirus patients on Jan. 21.
Patients on ventilators on Jan. 25 were 163, a number trending downward from 192 on Jan. 20.
Eligible residents are reminded that vaccinations through MSDH for coronavirus in DeSoto County are now being done at the Landers Center in Southaven and not at the county health department in Hernando. Appointments are required for the vaccine and may be made through https://covidvaccine.umc.edu/ or by phone at 877-978-6453.
Mississippians age 65 and older or those with underlying medical conditions are eligible to be vaccinated. DeSoto County officials said the number of dose appointments per week is expected to grow to 800 by Feb. 1 with the goal of further increasing that number to 1,000 after that.
The number of doses is dependent on what the state receives from the federal government.
If appointments are unavailable at the DeSoto County site, there are other locations, such as Batesville and Holly Springs, where vaccinations are being given. Be sure to check other locations if unable to get an appointment in DeSoto County.
