City and county officials update provisions for COVID-19 shelter-in-place order

Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. opened a press conference held on the steps of the Warren County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon to update the public on additional provisions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

He announced that in the wake of Gov. Tate Reeves shelter-in-place order of Wednesday, the City of Vicksburg will have new orders that will go in effect at 5 p.m. Friday, April 3, until 5 a.m. on Monday, April 20.

Flaggs summarized the new provisions for the City of Vicksburg:

• Juvenile curfew for residents 17 years and younger from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
• Day-care facilities will reopen in the city of Vicksburg
• No more than 10 people in any one place at any one time
• No unnecessary travel except to groceries, pharmacies and curbside pickup
• Restaurants cannot have seating inside or outside

Warren County Board of Supervisors President Jeff Holland spoke on the restrictions going into effect for Warren County, including that all county offices will be operational, but closed to the public and behind locked doors. Residents should call the offices to make an appointment if they need county services.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace reminded everyone that law enforcement will enforce the shelter-in-place rules and that these rules are for public safety. He went on to say no citations had been issued in the county for violation of the new rules.

Warren County Emergency Management director John Elfer said that he was still distributing personal protective equipment. He also emphasized the need to get information from valid sources and made a point to dismiss the idea of National Guard troops staging to enforce COVID-19 rules

Dr. Carlos Latorre, a member of the Mississippi COVID-19 task force, said that the number of hospital beds will become inadequate over the next couple of weeks. The requests for everyone to stay home, wear masks and observe hygiene are working, he said, and we need to stay with them for a couple more weeks.

Latorre said there is an increase in patients because of more testing. Spring break was two weeks ago, and the number of people infected during spring break is significant.

The doctor went on to congratulate Warren County and Vicksburg for their diligence in minimizing the spread of the virus.

One of the people infected in Warren County is located in an unnamed long-term care facility. Heavy testing has been done in that facility with no additional infections to date. The Mississippi State Department of Health is emphasizing that patients in these facilities, which include nursing homes, are at high risk due to their age and poor health.

For more information, read the city’s proclamation in full here.

Watch the press conference on our Facebook page.

Also, go to the MSDH website or call the COVID-19 hotline at 877-978-6453 with your questions.