A day after Gov. Tates Reeves signed a statewide shelter-in-place order for Mississippi, 11 cases and one death from COVID-19 has been confirmed in Yazoo County.
The state’s total number of confirmed cases rose to 1,177, with a total of 26 deaths reported statewide. The number of Yazoo County cases confirmed rose by two in one day, now with one death.
Reeves signed an executive order Wednesday setting a statewide shelter-in-place for Mississippi to slow the spread of COVID-19. The guidelines of the executive order include:
Individuals are to stay at home except for the limited allowances in the executive order.
When outside of their homes, people must follow social distancing guidelines by maintaining a 6-foot distance from others and avoid groups of 10 or more.
Evictions are suspended, though people are still required to pay any rent or make any mortgage payments.
All nonessential businesses are to stop all activities other than those necessary for minimum operations and enabling employees to work from home.
Social and other non-essential gatherings in groups of more than 10 people must be canceled or rescheduled.
Restaurants and bars may only remain open for drive-thru, curbside, and/or delivery service.
People may leave their homes only to perform essential activities, such as caring for someone in the vulnerable population, getting food or necessary supplies, and working for an essential business.
Individual outdoor recreation is encouraged, but not group recreation or activities such as soccer or basketball games.
The governor’s announcement this week reverses the action taken by the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors on March 27 that allowed bars and restaurants within the county to remain open but limited their occupation of ten or less people. That amendment to a previous order stemmed from Reeves defining restaurants and bars as “essential businesses.”
Some citizens voiced concerns about local bars within the county being allowed to remain, stating that some bars were violating the occupation restrictions. However, Reeves’ latest executive order will close those establishments.
The statewide shelter-in-place order goes into effect Friday at 5 p.m.
