More than 2,000 COVID-19 cases in state for another day

Thursday saw another day of more than 2,000 additional coronavirus cases reported by the State of Mississippi. The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reported 2,168 new virus cases on Wednesday, making for a total of 159,036 positive cases in the state since March. 

MSDH also reported 28 new death reports from COVID-19 for a state total of 3,879. 

None of the latest death reports were in DeSoto County, which reported 145 new cases, nine fewer from Wednesday’s daily update. The seven-day average, as of Tuesday, was 111 cases a day.  

There have been 104 deaths from the virus reported from the county.  

DeSoto County has reported 10,708 positive cases, putting it as the county with the most coronavirus cases in Mississippi. Hinds County remained second among positive cases in the state with 10,519, but Hinds has had the most number of death reports from coronavirus in Mississippi at 205. 

They are among 61 Mississippi counties showing a rising trend for coronavirus cases. There are eight counties showing a falling trend for cases. They are Bolivar, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha, Union, Winston, Adams, and Lamar. There were 13 counties where the case trend was considered flat, including Lafayette, Benton, and Tippah closest to DeSoto County.  

A total of 128,746 virus patients are presumed recovered at last report, according to MSDH.

Health officials remain concerned about hospital bed availability and DeSoto County remained no exception. The latest report had two available beds at Methodist-Olive Branch Hospital and 23 confirmed coronavirus cases in the hospital.  Methodist-Olive Branch had one available intensive care unit bed available and nine COVID-19 patients in the ICU. 

At Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto in Southaven, there were six available hospital beds as of Tuesday and 50 confirmed coronavirus cases. Baptist-DeSoto did not have an ICU bed available in the daily report and eight patients in the hospital with COVID-19. 

The daily report is found on the Mississippi State Department of Health website.

The DeSoto County Health Department continues to provide free rapid testing at its facility in Hernando. More information is found here: