Jasper County has recently been categorized as a “high incidence” county for COVID-19 in the state.
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, as of December 29, COVID-19 positive cases have increased to 210,032 across the state, with 4,719 total deaths attributed to the virus. Positive COVID-19 cases in Jasper County have increased to 1,360, with 25 deaths.
Jasper County has been placed by the Mississippi State Department of Health on a heightened COVID-19 positive incidence scale. According to the Mississippi State Department of Health website, the county has the third highest rate of COVID-19 incidence per capita throughout the state in the past weeks. MSDH indicates 17.6 new cases in the county on a seven day average based on an estimated population of 16,383 (approximately 282 positive virus cases from December 7 - December 20).
The MSDH website also indicates Jasper County as having “none” under a “mask mandate” status category.
The City of Bay Springs Board of Aldermen unanimously approved on November 17 a still current mask mandate inside the city limits, requiring citizens to wear masks inside public city buildings. The city mandate also required that masks must be worn in any and all businesses and commercial buildings inside the city limits. The City of Bay Springs mask mandate extends through January 5, 2021.
In addition to the Bay Springs mandate, Governor Tate Reeves also added Jasper County to an executive order county mask mandate list, which included 78-of-82 Mississippi counties, on December 22. That particular mask mandate is set to expire on January 15, 2021.
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs has relayed a recent advisory about social gatherings in the state.
“Due to rapidly rising COVID-19 cases, all residents of Mississippi should avoid any social gathering that includes individuals outside of the immediate family or household. MSDH recommends that Mississippians only participate in work, school or other absolutely essential activities, and avoid gatherings such as social events, sporting events, in-person church services, and weddings and funerals unless they involve only close family (preferably outdoors),” he mentioned.