New statewide record for COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations; Warren County ties its new case record

Thursday saw another record number of new COVID-19 cases in the state and in Warren County. In addition, hospitalizations continue in record territory, threatening a breakdown of the state’s health system.

In Warren County, the Mississippi State Department of Health reports 33 new COVID-19 cases —  tying the all-time high for new cases set on July 3— and no new deaths Thursday. The cumulative number of cases in the county to date is 649, and the county’s death toll is 22.

As of Thursday, July 9, MSDH reported that Shady Lawn Health and Rehabilitation, The Bluffs Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center and the Vicksburg Convalescent Center are under investigation for active COVID-19 outbreaks in Warren County. Shady Lawn has one COVID-19 case among residents, The Bluffs has two cases among staff and Vicksburg Convalescent has one case among staff. Deaths in the county include nine residents of Heritage House Nursing Center, which is no longer under investigation.

Statewide, MSDH reports a one-day record of 1,230 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases in Mississippi to 38,797.

This is the fourth time that more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Mississippi, and the first time 1,000-plus cases were reported on consecutive days.

MSDH reports that 18 Mississippian died of COVID-19 statewide Thursday, bringing the total number of deaths in the state to 1,308. About 48% of the state’s total deaths were people in long-term care facilities. The state’s rate of deaths to confirmed cases is about 3.3%, a rate that has been falling very slowly for a few weeks.

The numbers of deaths can lag new cases by as long as two weeks or more, which may be one reason deaths in the state had not risen dramatically until July 7 when 44 deaths were reported. In addition, most new cases are seen in younger people recently, and they are more likely to survive the virus than those 65 and older. By far, the largest age group reporting cases in Mississippi are young people from 18 to 29 years old.

MSDH reported deaths in the following counties Thursday:

Deaths and new cases were reported as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 15. MSDH usually reports new statistics on the COVID-19 coronavirus each day based on the previous day’s testing and death reports.

MSDH has estimated the number of people who can be presumed recovered from COVID-19 in Mississippi. That number is 25,932 through Sunday, July 12. This figure is updated weekly. It represents about 65.2% of the cumulative 39,797 cases reported as of Thursday, July 16.

The number of cases in Warren County three weeks ago, Thursday, June 25, was 371, therefore the estimated number of people presumed recovered in the county July 16 is 349, or about 53.8% of the 649 cumulative cases reported Thursday, July 16. The county has an estimated 278 active cases.

These estimates are based on MSDH’s guidelines for calculating estimated recoveries when hospitalizations are not known, using the number of cases 21 days ago, less known outcomes (deaths).

The primary metric concerning state health officials are the numbers of people hospitalized, and that number has been steadily rising with new cases. On June 6, the number of Mississippians hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 was at a low of 358. Since then, hospitalizations have more than doubled. Last week, health officials began warning repeatedly that some hospitals were running out of ICU beds.

The number of Mississippians hospitalized for the virus as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, is a record 1,117. The number includes 855 with confirmed cases of COVID-19, another record number, and 262 people with suspected but unconfirmed cases. Of those with confirmed infections, 247 were critically ill and in intensive care units and 125 were on ventilators.

Source: MSDH

For additional information, visit the MSDH website.