Mississippi adds 204 new COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths

The Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting Tuesday that the number of new COVID-19 cases soared by more than 200 cases again overnight. New reported cases as of 6 p.m. on Monday, April 20, number 204 bringing the state’s total confirmed cases to 4,716.

Another 14 Mississippians died of the virus yesterday, bringing the number of deaths in the state to 183.

In addition, MSDH reports three additional confirmed cases in Warren County bringing the number of cases to 25. The county’s death toll stands at two.

Neighboring Hinds County, which remains the state’s virus epicenter, is reporting 357 cases today, an increase of 10 since yesterday, and six deaths, an increase of one. Another long-term care facility is under investigation in Hinds County, bring that total to six as well.

In other neighboring counties, Claiborne reports 10 cases, and Sharkey reports three cases, both unchanged since yesterday. Neither Claiborne or Sharkey has any reported deaths from the virus. Yazoo County reports 103 cases, an increase of eight since yesterday, and one death. Yazoo County is also reporting one outbreak in a long-term care facility. Issaquena County remains the only county in the state without any reported cases.

MSDH reports new statistics on the COVID-19 coronavirus each morning based on the previous day’s testing and death reports.

Cases and deaths from the virus are heavily skewed toward African Americans, and MSDH is reporting racial breakdowns of each county’s statistics, available on its website. As of today, 51.3% of cases (2,419) and 63.9% of COVID-19 deaths (117) in Mississippi were among African Americans.

Almost all of the COVID-19 deaths in Mississippi occurred among people with underlying health conditions, including obesity, lung disease and diabetes. The health of African Americans is contributing to their higher rate of death from COVID-19.

All age groups have been affected by the disease, including children under 18, with 129 cases, up 11 since yesterday. As of Tuesday, MSDH reports eight cases in infants less than one year old, unchanged since yesterday. No deaths among juveniles have been reported in Mississippi.

Deaths and hospitalizations from the virus occur most frequently among those 60 and older. As of Monday, 558 of Mississippi’s 859 hospitalizations, or about 65%, were among people over 60, and nearly 90% of the state’s deaths (164) have been people over 60.

The rate of hospitalizations for those diagnosed with COVID-19 was at 27% Monday, still one of the highest rates in the nation. MSDH did not provide an update to this figure on Tuesday. The national average for hospitalizations from the virus is 12.3%; however, the rate increases to 38.7 per 100,000 for those 65 and older.

Outbreaks under investigation in long-term care facilities now number 79 across the state, an increase of two since yesterday. Even one case is a long-term care facility is considered an outbreak because of the ages and poor health of many residents.

The number of people tested in Mississippi as of April 20 was 52,364, with 41,539 tests performed by private labs. The number of tests completed by the MSDH Public Health Laboratory through April 20 is 10,925, with 1,231 positive results, a rate of 11.27%.

Anyone with symptoms of fever, severe cough or severe chest pains – especially those who are older or in poor health – should arrange for testing with their doctor or one of the many health-care providers now performing testing. Healthcare providers can assess your health history and symptoms and perform testing for COVID-19 as needed. MSDH is also helping conduct free drive-up testing sites in many parts of the state. Always call ahead to the testing provider for instructions on safely being examined before you visit for your test.

Free drive-through testing is available in Yazoo County today and in Claiborne County on Wednesday.

Find a COVID-19 testing provider near you

For more information, visit the MSDH website or call the hotline at 877-978-6453, available 24/7.

Mississippi COVID-19 cases, deaths and long-term care facility outbreaks to date: