Black lawmakers: Medicaid expansion, criminal justice reform needed
Gathered outside the state Capitol Wednesday, with three of the state’s new magnolia-themed flags nearby, Angela Turner-Ford, a Democratic lawmaker from West Point, noted the moment.“We’re happy to join in the celebration that has changed,” she said of the new flag.Daily Journal, Read More.
Gov. Tate Reeves extends mask mandate for most of Mississippi
Gov. Tate Reeves extended a mask mandate that covers most of the state in efforts to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, he announced Friday afternoon.The mandate, which requires the wearing of masks in public areas and has been in effect for weeks as the number of COVID-19 cases in the state has surged, has been extended until Feb. 3. Mississippi Today, Read More.
Mississippi State Department of Health: No new COVID-19 vaccine appointments until February
An accelerated statewide COVID-19 vaccination plan unveiled Tuesday has led to massive surge in demand, resulting in all of Mississippi’s available vaccine doses being committed to immunization appointments.The Clarion Ledger, Read More.
Use it or lose it: Reeves says clinics slow on vaccine deployment won't receive more doses
As Mississippi surpasses 100,000 vaccination doses administered statewide, Gov. Tate Reeves announced during a press conference on Monday that hospitals and clinics that haven’t administered at least 65% of their vaccine allocation will not receive additional doses this week. Reeves said he received a report on all 147 local vaccination providers that have partnered with the state to administer one of two COVID-19 vaccines. Daily Journal, Read More.
MS COVID-19 hospitalizations, cases may be starting to decline after Christmas surge
COVID-19 hospitalization numbers have dipped over the past week in Mississippi after hitting all-time highs after the Christmas holidays. After hitting a high mark of 1,444 people hospitalized on Jan. 4 with confirmed cases of the coronavirus, that figure stood at 1,188 as of Jan. 17. While that number remains high, it has dropped by 217 over the last seven days. Sun Herald, Read More.