Flaggs warns Vicksburg is on the verge of becoming a COVID-19 hot spot

Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. warned Wednesday that Warren County and Vicksburg is on the verge of becoming a hot spot of COVID-19 infections.

“If we don’t mitigate this and don’t turn it around, it’s going to be beyond my control as mayor,” he said. If Warren County is designated as a hot spot, the state will impose additional restrictions for businesses and residents.

In a live news conference Wednesday morning, Flaggs said he is extending the city’s civil emergency proclamation for another two weeks through July 13.

“We have to be more cautious and use more precautions, and we have to practice social distancing,” he added. “We have to practice the use of masks.”

The city is adding restrictions to the July 4 fireworks show, including asking people to stay in their vehicles.

As of Tuesday, Warren County has reported 347 cumulative cases of COVID-19 and 14 deaths. More than 600 new cases were reported statewide Tuesday, the single highest number of new cases since the crisis began.

Flaggs said code enforcement personnel will be out performing random checks in the community’s businesses to ensure COVID-19 restrictions are being adhered to. If a business is in violation, it will be fined.

“This is not business as usual,” Flaggs said. “This is the new normal.”

He reminded the audience that the city can levy a $1,000 fine if limitations on numbers of individuals allowed into stores and in gatherings such as funerals, social distancing and hygiene guidelines are not being followed.

“It’s personal responsibility time,” he said.

Watch the entire news conference on our Facebook page.