Coronavirus spread continues across Mississippi with latest statistics released
Published 12:00 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Mississippi reported an above-average number of new COVID-19 coronavirus cases Tuesday, as the virus continues to spread across the state.
The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 730 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total cases since the pandemic began in March to 111,322. Of those cases, the state believes approximately 97,675 have recovered.
Mississippi’s coronavirus caseload began rising over the last two weeks after Gov. Tate Reeves lifted a statewide face mask mandate at the beginning of October.
On Monday, Reeves announced an executive order requiring face masks and other virus mitigation measures in nine counties that have high numbers of new cases – DeSoto, Jackson, Lee, Forrest, Lamar, Itawamba, Neshoba, Claiborne and Chickasaw counties.
The state reported 31 new deaths Tuesday, all of which occurred between August 6 and October 18. A total of 3,202 people have died from the virus, the state reported.
The 7-day, daily average of new cases rose slightly to 769 with Tuesday’s update.
The 14-day, daily average dropped slightly to 689 cases per day.