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Here are the details by Geoff Pender Mississippi Today Legislative negotiators and leaders have agreed on a draft of medical marijuana legislation, and are anticipated to ask Gov. Tate Reeves as early as Friday to call the Legislature into special session, sources close to the negotiations said Thursday. Legislative leaders on Thursday released some details of the proposal — which had been kept close to the vest for months — such as that cities and counties will be allowed to "opt out" of having medical marijuana cultivation or dispensaries, although local voters can override this. (See below in story for further details of proposal). Negotiations have dragged on throughout the summer on crafting a medical marijuana program to replace one passed by Mississippi voters in November but shot down in May by the state Supreme Court on a constitutional technicality. House Speaker Philip Gunn in a Thursday interview on a Supertalk radio show said he believed the House and Senate leadership and negotiators are "in agreement" on a draft bill, and he believes both chambers have the votes to pass such a measure. He said he planned to get together with Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, then barring any last minute glitches "inform the governor we are ready." Other sources close to the negotiations on Thursday told Mississippi Today they anticipate that request to the governor would happen as soon as Friday. Reeves has sole authority to call lawmakers into special session, and would set the date and parameters of a special session. Although legislative leaders have expressed interest in dealing with COVID-19 and other issues in a special session, Reeves has appeared unwilling but said he would call a session for medical marijuana, pending lawmakers are in agreement and he agrees with the measure. Gunn in his radio interview on Thursday gave some particulars of the bill, but said "don't hold me to it" and deferred to Rep. Lee Yancey, R-Brandon, the lead House negotiator on the measure. Yancey has worked with Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, the lead Senate negotiator. Blackwell could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday. Yancey gave Mississippi Today some highlights of the draft bill, which would be subject to changes by the full Legislature. They include: Cities and counties could opt out. Voters could opt back in. City councils or aldermen, or county boards of supervisors, within 90 days of passage of legislation, could opt out from allowing cultivation or dispensing of medical marijuana within their borders. Yancey said initially this was to be 60 days, but a late change was made. However, voters could gather 1,500 signatures, or signatures of 20% of voters, whichever is less, and force a referendum on the issue. If such a referendum to allow it fails, voters could try again in two years, similar to state alcohol referenda. Yancey said that under the draft measure, "Once it's in, it's in," meaning once approved, a locality could not come back and ban it. "This gives businesses the certainty they need to get started," Yancey said. Smoking cannabis would be allowed. There had been debate on whether Mississippi's program would allow smoking of cannabis by patients, as most states with programs allow, or prohibit it, as Alabama does with its recently approved program. "There are those who have certain debilitating conditions who need the effects of medical cannabis to take effect immediately," Yancey said. "Ingesting a gummy or something like that could take 45 minutes to an hour. Whether it's terrible seizures or pain and suffering or not being able to eat, there are those who need relief as immediately as possible ... There are those who look at this from a bias of recreational use, but that's not apples to apples, not fair. There are people who are suffering, who need the palliative relieve medical cannabis can provide, and our main goal is to allow people who are suffering terrible illnesses to get relief." Medical marijuana would be subject to sales tax and an excise. The state's sales tax, currently at 7%, would be levied on medical marijuana, as well as a $15 an ounce excise. Yancey said the goal was to have a 5% excise, but that going rates for marijuana vary by potency and product, so the weight-based tax was the easiest way to get near that mark. Weight for edibles and other product would be based on the cannabis weight, not food or other product. Yancey said this tax rate would put Mississippi roughly in the middle of states with legalized medical cannabis. "The going rate for mid-range (marijuana flower) is about $300 an ounce, so if you do the math, $15 an ounce would be around the 5%," Yancey said. "If a product sold for lower, you would pay higher than that rate, if sold for more, you would pay less." Outdoor growing would not be allowed, nor home growing. Lawmakers during hearings this summer were told by officials from other states that regulating growing and safety of medical marijuana is easier with indoor growing facilities. Yancey said the draft as it stands does not allow home growing by patients. State Health Department would be in charge, with Department of Revenue, Agriculture Commission sharing some responsibilities. The Mississippi State Department of Health would oversee the state's medical marijuana program, but the state's taxing and agriculture agencies would share some regulatory duties. State Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson has told lawmakers he will not participate in regulating medical marijuana because marijuana is still federally illegal. Gipson has threatened to sue if lawmakers try to force him to participate. Yancey said the proposal would allow Gipson to subcontract growing regulations to someone else. "For instance, if the Board of Pharmacy said it was interested in regulating the plants — like they do with compounding pharmacies — they could do it," Yancey said. "In a sense Andy wouldn't have to do it himself, he could farm it out, no pun intended." Preference would be given to in-state companies. Yancey said cultivators would be licensed in tiers — from "micro cultivators" to large ones, based on square footage of canopy space. Micro growers, under 2,000 square feet, would have to be "100% Mississippi resident participation." Larger ones initially would have to have 35% Mississippi ownership, but that requirement would be repealed after one year. Yancey said this could help Mississippians be involved in the business, but help the state avoid lawsuits other states have faced from out-of-state growers. Yancey said there would be a similar setup for processors, based on amount of pounds of product they produce. Potency would be regulated. Yancey said there would be THC potency limits of 30% on flower, 60% on concentrates and infused products. He said any product above 30% THC would have to have a warning label. This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

by Bobby Harrison Mississippi Today Gov. Tate Reeves said he intends to be among a group of Republican governors suing President Joe Biden to block the president's effort to require certain businesses to mandate their employees be vaccinated for COVID-19 or tested weekly. “We are going to use every tool at our disposal, litigation, which I am not a big fan of ordinarily, but litigation, et cetera,” Reeves said late Friday afternoon during a hastily called news briefing on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion. Biden announced on Thursday a plan to try to increase the rate of COVID-19 vaccinations in the nation that included: The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration mandating private companies with more than 100 employees have their workers to be vaccinated or have them take a COVID-19 test weekly. Mandating most federal employees and private contractors to the federal government be vaccinated. Requiring health care facilities that receive federal Medicare and Medicaid payments have their staffs vaccinated. The governor, who in the past has said he opposes vaccination mandates even though Mississippi has multiple such requirements for school children and college students, refined his answer Friday afternoon. He said those state requirements were approved by the Mississippi Legislature, not just by one person. Reeves said Biden’s actions were those of a "tyrant." “Every tyrant in history has said what they are trying to do is in the best interest of the people,” Reeves, the first-term governor, said. “Where does it stop? What does the president of the United States not have the ability to do? What else can he unilaterally force you to do? … This is not called a representative form of government, that’s not called a true democracy. That is tyranny.” Reeves, a constant defender of former President Donald Trump, would not answer when asked if it was more tyrannical to try to mandate someone take a vaccine or try to overthrow an election as Trump tried to do. “That seems to be a false choice,” Reeves said. “…I haven’t tried to do either one of them so I really can’t comment on it.” Reeves said Biden had in the past said he would not try to impose a vaccination mandate and accused the president of breaking his promise. He also said the president announced the plan to divert attention from the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, which Reeves called an “absolute disaster.” The governor said a lawsuit could not be filed until the president actually issues the executive order. “I anticipate we will see a large number of states, and quite frankly all states should be involved in this litigation,” Reeves said. He added, “We can’t sue until there is actually an order. At this point we don’t know even what the order will say .. We don’t know when it will be enacted, or when it is going to end if ever.” The Biden administration has said OSHA will use emergency powers it has been granted by Congress to initiate work force safety changes to ensure the protection of workers. Of the plan of Republican governors to sue him, Biden said Friday, “Have at it.” He added, “I am so disappointed that, particularly, some Republican governors have been so cavalier with the health of these kids, so cavalier with the health of their communities. We’re playing for real here. This isn’t a game.” Some Republican governors have tried to block school districts or other entities from imposing mask mandates or in some instances vaccination mandates. In Mississippi, Reeves has refused to impose any mandates during the recent coronavirus surge, but has not tried to block school and local governments from doing so. This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Here is an update concerning Tropical Storm Nicholas in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Local impacts that were briefed earlier remain largely the same. Overview: Tropical Storm Nicholas is expected to continue northward before making landfall on the south Texas coast late tonight. A slower northward or north-northeastward motion is forecast by later today and tonight. On the forecast track, the center of Nicholas will pass near or just offshore the coasts of northeastern Mexico and south Texas tonight or Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds are at 60 mph. Gradual strengthening is possible while Nicholas approaches the northwestern Gulf coast later tonight. Confidence: Confidence on the track and intensity is currently moderate, however confidence is moderate to high with the potential of heavy rain and storms across portions of the area through the middle to later parts of the week. Impacts: Regardless of development, a steady increase in moisture is expected to continue today, lasting through the week with rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms likely. Locally heavy rainfall and intense rain rates may lead to areas of flash flooding. Minor coastal inundation around high tide could occur by Tuesday or Wednesday over mainly the lowest lying areas west of the mouth of the Mississippi River. At 7 AM CDT, the center of Tropical Storm Nicholas was located at latitude 25.4 North, longitude 96.9 West. Nicholas is moving to the north-northwest near 5 mph. The center of Nicholas is passing just offshore the coasts of Northeastern Mexico and South Texas, and should move onshore along the coast of central Texas late tonight or early Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast until Nicholas reaches the northwest Gulf coast late tonight or early Tuesday. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding will be the main threats to southeast Louisiana and south Mississippi over the next several days. Brian T. Adam EMA

by Kate Royals Mississippi Today The Mississippi Department of Education on Thursday issued a letter to school administrators giving them the go-ahead on financial payouts to teachers and staff members who get vaccinated against COVID-19. Some school districts were waiting on guidance from the state education department to move forward with plans to use federal COVID-19 relief funds to incentivize teachers and staff to be vaccinated with up to $1,000 payments. "MDE hopes the vaccine incentive opportunity will help get more people vaccinated so students can continue in-person learning with fewer disruptions," a statement from Jean Cook, the spokesperson for MDE, said. "Teacher and student absences due to COVID-19 exposure and infection interrupt teaching and learning." The letter from Judy Nelson, executive director of the Office of Federal Programs in MDE, says districts may incentivize vaccinations if they have local board approval prior to implementing the incentives. The district must also establish a written procedure for determining the allowability of costs and "to maintain effective internal control over the Federal award." The guidance also says the amount must be reasonable, which it characterizes as an amount ranging from $100 to $1,000. "LEAs (local education agencies) shall be prepared to document what is considered reasonable," it states. School districts in Biloxi, Kosciusko and Bay St. Louis-Waveland all planned to use these funds for an incentive program. Their goal is to have a higher percentage of teachers and staff vaccinated to help continue in-person school and decrease absences. “It will hopefully save me on substitute teacher costs and wasting instructional time and the time of assistant teachers — not to mention the loss of instruction,” Biloxi Superintendent Marcus Boudreaux said. Biloxi, like several other districts across the state, is facing a major shortage of available substitute teachers to cover classes for teachers who are out sick with COVID-19 or quarantined, in addition to non-pandemic related absences. Districts are planning to use funds from the most recent federal coronavirus relief bill, the American Rescue Plan, to pay for the incentives. The U.S. Congress passed the bill in March, and it sent a total of around $1.6 billion to schools in Mississippi. Biloxi received around $18.3 million of those funds, while Kosciusko got $7.3 million and Bay St. Louis-Waveland got around $6.6 million. The money can be used for an array of purposes, from purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean buildings to training and professional development for teachers and staff, in addition to purchasing educational technology and providing mental health supports for students. ESSER funds may be used for vaccination outreach efforts, which “could include activities to create awareness and build confidence, facilitate clinics, and provide incentives … for staff to get vaccinated,” a U.S. Department of Education document states. Natchez-Adams School District recently approved a plan that would offer incentives to employees who get vaccinated and require those who don't to submit to twice-weekly testing. It is not clear what funds they are using to support that program. This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

by Will Stribling, Mississippi Today September 7, 2021 In just one brutal month's time, the delta variant of COVID-19 accounted for one-fifth of the state of Mississippi’s total cases since the pandemic began and killed nearly 1,000 Mississippians. During the month of August, the virus decimated the state’s hospital system, demoralized already weary frontline workers, and disrupted school for nearly every student and parent in the state. Mississippi, among the least vaccinated states in America, will remember August 2021 as one of the darkest months of the COVID-19 pandemic. By mid-August, Mississippi was the COVID capital of the world. At one point later in the month, four Mississippi counties claimed spots in the national top 10 list for highest caseload per capita, including the top spot. The virus spread through the state so completely and violently that several tent hospitals were erected in parking garages during the hottest month of the Mississippi summer. By mid-August, there were no ICU beds available in the entire state, and COVID patients were waiting in full emergency rooms for critical care. To help alleviate the hospital staffing shortage, the Mississippi State Department of Health issued an order to allow EMTs and paramedics to offer care to COVID patients while they waited for bed space. The state’s healthcare system was so overwhelmed that experts warned the entire hospital network was within days of collapsing. To fend off that collapse, the state had to request that the federal government foot the $8 million-per-week bill for 1,100 contract healthcare workers. READ MORE: Mississippi’s hospital system could fail within 5-10 days. Gov. Tate Reeves says to "remain calm." Hospital administrators across the state reported the virus killed numerous pregnant women. Multiple pregnant women on ventilators died of COVID-19 in a Jackson hospital, requiring ICU c-section deliveries to save their babies. “The seasoned OB-GYNs and critical care specialists said this never happens — never,” said Mark Horne, president of the Mississippi State Medical Association, on Sept. 3. Multiple Mississippians were hospitalized because they chose to take horse dewormer instead of a safe and effective vaccine, leading the health department to issue dire public pleas for humans to stop taking the animal medicine. Beds to be used for the COVID-19 field hospital being set up in the basement of UMMC Parking Garage B, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. Thirteen-year-old Mkayla Robinson, an eighth grader in Smith County, died a couple days after being diagnosed with COVID-19. That tragedy spurred pleas from the state’s largest medical and education groups for a statewide mask mandate in schools, similar to one issued by Gov. Tate Reeves last school year. Reeves, however, rebuffed those pleas, ensuring Mississippians the days of statewide mandates to stem the spread of the virus were over. Meanwhile, the swift and uncontrollable outbreaks of the virus inside schools caused nearly 15% of Mississippi schoolchildren to quarantine in August — just days after they returned for the fall semester — due to infection or direct exposure. This stirred fear inside classrooms among teachers and students alike. There was little relief from Reeves, the state’s chief executive and top manager of the state’s pandemic response efforts. The governor remained steadfast in his refusal to say, without equivocation, that every eligible Mississippian should get a vaccine despite the fact that Republican governors in neighboring states offered clear and concise encouragement for their residents to get the shot. Reeves was blistered by hospital executives and school leaders for his inconsistent COVID policies. He directly countered advice from the state’s top doctors, he placated those who refused to get the vaccine, and he uttered jaw-dropping comments about the pandemic. Reeves countered the medical advice of Dr. Thomas Dobbs, the state health officer, saying that there was not much reason for people who are vaccinated to wear masks. He said that a reporter who wore a mask inside a governor’s press conference was “virtue signaling,” and he falsely claimed that the press had fabricated reports of his response to the pandemic. At a Republican fundraiser in Memphis in mid-August, Reeves said that Mississippians aren’t as scared of COVID as other Americans because they believe they’ll go to heaven when they die. “When you believe in eternal life, when you believe that living on this earth is but a blip on the screen, then you don’t have to be so scared of things,” Reeves said, neglecting to mention any of the Mississippians who had died from COVID in August — 984 by month’s end — or their families. Now one week into September, there is reason for cautious optimism. Cases and hospitalizations are trending sharply downward. https://twitter.com/TCBPubHealth/status/1435262154819657729 Mississippi’s seven-day average of new COVID cases has dropped nearly one-third from August’s peak. Hospitalizations have seen a more modest decrease — just over 16% from their peak — but these trends are naturally out of sync. It takes time for trends in caseloads to be reflected in hospitalizations and then deaths. Another promising sign is Mississippi’s declining prominence among the most infectious counties in America. Just two weeks ago, Mississippi claimed four spots on the national top 10 list for highest caseload per capita, including the top spot. Now it only has one — Wayne County — sitting at No. 10. During that same period, Mississippi went from having the highest infection rate per capita of any state to the fourth-highest. While the downward trend is welcomed, medical professionals are urging Mississippians to get the vaccine and remain vigilant. “We can't let our guard down,” Dobbs said during a press conference last week. “We've got a lot more coronavirus to go through before we can get back to where we were previously.” This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

General Information Mississippi COVID-19 Hotline (7 days a week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.): 877-978-6453 Homebound persons: For assistance with COVID-19 vaccination, send e-mail to [email protected] COVID-19 overview, questions and answers, and resources in other languages As the delta variant spreads, the State Health Officer urges all Mississippians 12 and older to be vaccinated. Masks should be worn by everyone in indoor public places, and those 65 and older or with a chronic medical condition should avoid large indoor gatherings. Details » COVID-19 in Mississippi New Cases and Deaths as of September 6 NEW CASES 704 New COVID-19 positive test results reported to MSDH as of 3 p.m. yesterday. TOTAL MISSISSIPPI CASES 453,348 Totals by county NEW DEATHS 21 New COVID-19 related deaths identified by MSDH as of 3 p.m. yesterday. Six deaths occurred between September 4 and September 6 in the counties below: County list Fifteen deaths occurred between August 4 and September 1, identified from death certificate reports. County list TOTAL MISSISSIPPI DEATHS 8,685 Totals by county LTC OUTBREAKS 146 Current outbreaks in long-term care (LTC) facilities only. (See LTC facility outbreak definition.) LTC cases by county About our case counts: We currently update our case totals each weekday based on test results reported to MSDH from the previous day (or weekend). Multiple positive tests for the same individual are counted only once. County case numbers and deaths may change as investigation finds new or additional information. Mississippi COVID-19 Data Charts and Maps Our COVID-19 charts and maps section has demographic details of cases, deaths, hospitalizations, geographic distribution, and more. All charts and maps COVID-19 Data Reports Variants PDF Selected COVID-19 variants identified over time, determined from a sampling of COVID-19 cases since January 2021. Updated weekly Vaccinations and vaccination status COVID-19 vaccination totals and demographics, and chart of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths by vaccination status. Updated weekdays. Deaths by cause Deaths from COVID-19 pneumonia/influenza, and heart disease; updated weekly Long-term care facilities LTC and residential care facility cases and deaths reported to MSDH by facilities Nursing homes Ongoing outbreaks and other data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Schools Weekly COVID-19 cases, outbreaks and exposure reported by Mississippi K-12 schools County totals Total COVID-19 cases and deaths by county, race and ethnicity; updated weekdays County snapshots Weekly COVID-19 summaries for each Mississippi county Counties by incidence Counties ranked by weekly cases and incidence Laboratory testing Totals by test type from all Mississippi testing providers Cumulative Cases and Deaths by County Totals of all reported COVID-19 cases, including those in long-term care (LTC) facilities. The numbers in this table are provisional. County case and deaths totals may change as investigation finds new or additional information. County Total Cases Total Deaths Total LTC Facility Cases Total LTC Facility Deaths Adams 4101 109 87 18 Alcorn 4820 81 130 20 Amite 1850 49 57 9 Attala 3108 82 187 36 Benton 1329 27 47 10 Bolivar 5798 140 237 33 Calhoun 2480 37 36 6 Carroll 1540 35 52 11 Chickasaw 2692 62 61 15 Choctaw 1184 24 11 0 Claiborne 1224 33 46 9 Clarke 2625 84 133 31 Clay 2740 67 41 5 Coahoma 3750 93 133 12 Copiah 4022 79 102 13 Covington 3939 89 142 39 De Soto 28440 318 120 26 Forrest 12584 212 283 60 Franklin 1106 26 41 5 George 4262 64 62 9 Greene 1951 41 57 6 Grenada 3367 96 154 32 Hancock 6794 99 72 15 Harrison 30728 430 524 75 Hinds 29947 545 841 137 Holmes 2510 82 106 20 Humphreys 1185 35 34 9 Issaquena 186 6 0 0 Itawamba 4163 89 135 24 Jackson 21996 314 274 38 Jasper 3009 58 45 2 Jefferson 847 32 41 7 Jefferson Davis 1589 40 9 1 Jones 12570 205 227 43 Kemper 1321 36 49 10 Lafayette 7732 131 192 55 Lamar 9728 115 55 12 Lauderdale 10943 283 472 104 Lawrence 1961 30 27 2 Leake 3793 80 94 16 Lee 13850 203 223 43 Leflore 4294 137 239 55 Lincoln 5037 123 200 40 Lowndes 9738 165 269 64 Madison 13625 259 415 71 Marion 3862 95 161 24 Marshall 5671 115 65 15 Monroe 6071 155 191 55 Montgomery 1629 48 54 9 Neshoba 6181 192 212 59 Newton 3453 68 87 15 Noxubee 1675 37 38 6 Oktibbeha 6529 114 229 36 Panola 5835 115 103 15 Pearl River 8282 187 210 42 Perry 1872 48 24 9 Pike 5158 125 136 37 Pontotoc 5712 88 86 13 Prentiss 4138 71 101 15 Quitman 988 21 0 0 Rankin 20547 339 480 68 Scott 4257 87 116 19 Sharkey 599 20 45 8 Simpson 4081 106 159 20 Smith 2331 44 72 8 Stone 3305 49 86 14 Sunflower 3978 102 124 20 Tallahatchie 2099 46 50 7 Tate 4030 93 80 19 Tippah 4158 78 120 14 Tishomingo 3073 83 103 28 Tunica 1423 32 18 2 Union 5442 85 132 23 Walthall 1955 54 69 14 Warren 6178 150 173 38 Washington 6492 143 193 41 Wayne 4045 60 80 13 Webster 1823 38 63 12 Wilkinson 968 34 25 5 Winston 2919 89 130 39 Yalobusha 2094 46 82 22 Yazoo 4037 83 149 20 Total 453,348 8,685 11,008 2,052 Case Classifications Mississippi investigates and reports both probable and confirmed cases and deaths according to the CSTE case definition. Confirmed Probable Total Cases 264,932 188,416 453,348 Deaths 5,899 2,786 8,685 Confirmed cases and deaths are generally determined by positive PCR tests, which detect the presence of ongoing coronavirus infection. Probable cases are those who test positive by other testing methods such as antibody or antigen, and have recent symptoms consistent with COVID-19, indicating a recent infection. Probable deaths are those individuals with a designation of COVID-19 as a cause of death on the death certificate, but where no confirmatory testing was performed.

(Jackson, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) awarded Harrison County a solid waste assistance grant of $24,863 that will be used by the county for the collection of household hazardous waste and a $51,500 two-year waste tire grant to continue the local waste tire collection program for small quantity generators of waste tires. Hancock County received a solid waste assistance grant of $43,275 that will be used for the collection of household hazardous waste. “The Solid Waste Assistance Grants support a variety of useful solid waste management activities for cities and counties, and these grants will assist these counties’ efforts in improving their management of solid waste,” said Chris Wells, MDEQ Executive Director. Cities and counties may apply for Solid Waste Assistance Grants through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. These grants are used by local communities for programs to prevent and clean up unauthorized dumps; to aid in hiring local solid waste enforcement officers; for public education efforts on solid waste disposal and recycling; and, to establish programs for the collection of white goods, bulky wastes, and recyclables. Funding for waste tire grants is provided by a waste tire account funded from a fee charged on the wholesale sale of every new motor vehicle tire sold in Mississippi. This fee provides the funds to ensure and encourage the proper management and disposal of waste tires. Information about this grant program and other initiatives is available at www.mdeq.ms.gov/solid-waste-management-programs.

by Bobby Harrison Mississippi Today Gov. Tate Reeves extended a mask mandate that covers most of the state in efforts to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, he announced Friday afternoon. The mandate, which requires the wearing of masks in public areas and has been in effect for weeks as the number of COVID-19 cases in the state has surged, has been extended until Feb. 3. The order covers 73 of the state’s 82 counties, including all of Mississippi’s major population areas. In recent weeks the mandate has covered most of the state, but Reeves has resisted calls to issue a statewide order. READ MORE: See all of Mississippi’s COVID-19 data here. The areas not covered by the mandate are primarily rural counties on the western side of the state: Adams, Claiborne, Issaquena, Jefferson, Lawrence, Quitman, Sharkey, Tunica and Wilkinson. “It is important that we continue to take this virus seriously,” Reeves said in a statement. “We are working on getting Mississippi vaccinated, but continue to social distance, keep gatherings small and wear your mask.” On Friday, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported 2,342 new coronavirus cases, 55 deaths and 220 outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Hospitals across the state have been stressed in recent weeks because of the surge in cases. In total, Mississippi has experienced 248,189 cases and 5,411 deaths from the coronavirus. The governor also extended the requirement that masks be worn statewide on school grounds. The executive order also limits crowd sizes at various gatherings. READ MORE: Mississippi health officer says January will likely be state’s worst month for COVID-19 deaths. This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

by Alex Rozier Mississippi Today The state Department of Health announced Wednesday that all of its appointments to administer vaccines are booked and no additional doses are available at this time. "The Mississippi State Department of Health had a vaccine distribution plan in place that has been significantly altered in the last few days – especially in the last 24 hours," MSDH said in the notice. "Neither the county health department drive-through sites, nor the UMMC vaccine scheduling website was designed to accommodate the monumental surge we are currently experiencing. At this time, we have no additional vaccine, and every appointment is tied to an actual vaccination." The notice went on to say that MSDH hopes to receive a large shipment of vaccine in mid-February. A MSDH spokesperson clarified that the announcement only refers to the department's availability and that private clinics and hospitals schedule their own vaccinations. READ MORE: Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines in Mississippi On its Facebook page, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, which is handling the state's vaccine scheduling system, said its "site and server were not prepared for the surge of page visits brought on by the announcement yesterday of vaccine availability for all Mississippians 65 and older and those in younger age ranges with underlying conditions." After initially making doses available for healthcare workers and long-term care center residents and staff, Gov. Tate Reeves announced last week the roll-out was moving ahead of schedule by opening of appointments for those 75 and older. On Tuesday, the state then expanded eligibility to those 65 and older, as well as those with pre-existing conditions, groups which were initially slated to become eligible in February. As of Wednesday, the state had administered 73,931 vaccines out of the 264,650 doses it had distributed; about 90,000 of those doses, or 34%, went through the federal pharmacy partnership with CVS and Walgreens. During a press conference Tuesday, Reeves lamented the slow rollout in hospitals, where less than half of their distributed doses had been administered, as well as at LTCs, where pharmacies attribute the issue to a "lack of personnel." This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

by Alex Rozier, Mississippi Today Mississippi will push up its distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to residents 75 and older to next week, health officials and Gov. Tate Reeves announced on Monday. The state will then begin distributing doses to those 65 and older the following week. In its first phase of distribution, the state is currently administering doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to healthcare workers and long-term care residents. Originally, those 75 and older were scheduled to receive the vaccine in mid-January, and those 65 and older were scheduled for February. TIMELINE: Here's when you expect to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Mississippi. The state health department is now operating 18 vaccination drive-thru locations across the state. Those eligible must make an appointment on the health department's website — which also includes a full list of locations and schedules — or can call 877-978-6453 for more information. Reeves also clarified the number of vaccines Mississippi has received and distributed. The state has so far distributed about 165,000 doses, and about 86,000 of those have gone towards the state's enrolled providers. The remaining 78,000 are being distributed through a partnership between the federal government and pharmacies CVS and Walgreens to vaccinate long-term care residents. Among those vaccines in the hands of the state's providers, about 23,000, or roughly a quarter, had been administered as of last week, while only about 2% of doses provided through the pharmacies have been administered. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs added that about 20,000 doses will go out to private clinics this week to help expand distribution. Meanwhile, the spread of the coronavirus continues to reach new highs in the state, and Dobbs said he expects that trend to continue as post-holiday cases begin to be reported to MSDH. var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1609801364028'); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object'); if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 800 ) { vizElement.style.width='800px';vizElement.style.height='527px';} else if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 500 ) { vizElement.style.width='800px';vizElement.style.height='527px';} else { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height='694px';} var scriptElement = document.createElement('script'); scriptElement.src = 'https://public.tableau.com/javascripts/api/viz_v1.js'; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement); On New Year's Eve, 357 patients were in intensive care units with COVID-19, a new record for the state. The seven-day average for hospitalizations continues to climb after reaching a new peak last month, and the seven-day average for new cases saw a new high of 2,239 on Sunday. var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1609801339921'); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object'); if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 800 ) { vizElement.style.width='800px';vizElement.style.height='627px';} else if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 500 ) { vizElement.style.width='800px';vizElement.style.height='627px';} else { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height='727px';} var scriptElement = document.createElement('script'); scriptElement.src = 'https://public.tableau.com/javascripts/api/viz_v1.js'; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement); This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license." data-src="https://mississippitoday.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=969945&ga=UA-75003810-1" />

Molds can make your home sick. It is important to live in a healthy environment and inhale pure oxygen. I have seen many articles online for mold removal but didn't find anyone using organic products for cleaning the mold from the home. If anyone has any knowledge about it, they can share it with me here.

by Bobby Harrison, Mississippi Today Whether any member of Mississippi’s congressional delegation will participate in a challenge of the election of Joe Biden as president when the U.S. House and Senate meet jointly on Jan. 6 is not clear. Federal law gives House and Senate members the opportunity to challenge the results of a presidential election on that date. Some members of the delegation, such as Sen. Roger Wicker of Tupelo, the senior Republican member of the delegation, said after Monday’s vote of the electoral college affirming the Biden win that they reluctantly accept the results of the election. But U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo of the 4th District, which encompasses much of South Mississippi, did not rule out participating in a challenge to the election, according to a statement he gave the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo. “I do acknowledge the electoral college’s decision, and I also acknowledge the responsibility of Congress to certify the election results on Jan. 6,” Palazzo said. “In the coming weeks, I will continue evaluating the evidence presented by President Trump’s legal team and make a final decision on verifying the election results closer to Jan. 6.” U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, whom Trump campaigned extensively for when she first won election to the post in 2018, has not commented since the electoral college vote. At one point, she was fund-raising on social media to help with Trump’s multiple, though unsuccessful, legal challenges. Wicker voiced support soon after the Nov. 3 election for Trump’s efforts to look for instances of voter fraud but has remained quiet since then. In a statement on Wednesday, Wicker told Mississippi Today, “The electoral college vote makes it clear that Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States. I am obviously disappointed in the outcome, and I know many Mississippians feel the same way. Nevertheless, we must respect the constitutional process and move on.” Rep. Michael Guest, who lives in Rankin County, said in a statement to Mississippi Today: “The electoral college has cast the final and deciding vote for Joe Biden. My prayers are with him as he prepares to assume the office of president of the United States.” And Rep. Trent Kelly, who lives in Lee County and represents portions of north Mississippi told the Daily Journal in Tupelo: “It appears that Joe Biden is the president-elect. I have done exactly what I said I would do. I have supported President Trump and followed every possible legal remedy to ensure the election results are valid. At this time, there does not appear to be a viable and legal remedy left to pursue. “Elections and the electoral college, as well as states’ right to certify the electorate, are an integral part of all our elections dating back to our founders. Although I do not like the results of the current election, the courts and the states have spoken. Unless there is an unforeseen, valid legal challenge, I intend to support the results of the electoral college.” On Jan. 6, if both a senator and House member jointly agree to challenge the electoral votes from any states, then the two chambers separately debate the issue. But for the challenge to prevail, both chambers must approve it by a majority vote. With the Democrats maintaining a slim majority in the House, there does not appear to be an avenue for a successful challenge for the president. Various Republican senators also have said they would not vote in support of a challenge that would have to invalidate the ballots in multiple states to be successful. In addition, media reports have surfaced that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who like Wicker acknowledged Biden as the president-elect this week, has asked his caucus members not to participate in a challenge that would be unsuccessful and place his members in the position of having to make a difficult vote. Trump and his allies have filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the election results. Those lawsuits have been rejected by judges appointed by both Democrats and Republicans, including judges appointed by Trump. Kelly, Guest and Palazzo filed friend of the court briefs in support of the effort of Republican state attorneys general, including Lynn Fitch of Mississippi, to invalidate the results in four swing states won by Biden, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. That lawsuit was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license." data-src="https://mississippitoday.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=927029&ga=UA-75003810-1" />

by Alex Rozier, Mississippi Today Gov. Tate Reeves on Wednesday expanded orders limiting gatherings statewide after catching criticism for hosting Christmas parties for politicians and supporters at the Governor's Mansion as COVID-19 cases soar and top health officials advise against such events. Reeves said his parties will be carefully structured for social distancing and safety and that he respects state medical officials, considers them "confidants," but doesn't always agree with them. He said he believes Mississippians want some "normalcy" after 10 months of the pandemic and that holiday gatherings can be held safely. The state health department and state health officer have recently advised Mississippians not to attend holiday parties beyond closest family, and warned holiday socializing will bring more cases and deaths as Mississippi's health care system is overtaxed. But Reeves said parties and public tours at the mansion "allows us to send a message to the people of Mississippi that you can return to life as somewhat normal, but you've got to do it in a way that minimizes risk." Still, as MSDH reported a record-setting 2,746 new cases on Wednesday, Reeves expanded statewide his order limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people indoors and 50 outdoors when social distancing can't be practiced. Until Wednesday, 54 counties had been under such executive orders and under orders to wear masks inside public places. He did not expand the mask mandate beyond specific counties with the highest cases of COVID-19, although state medical experts have also urged him to do so. The new orders also added and removed some counties from the list of those under a mask mandate, bringing the total to 61 of 82 counties. Vaccines available by next week A day after the first fully vetted vaccine shots were distributed in the United Kingdom, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said that 25,000 doses of the new Pfizer vaccine will be available for Mississippi's frontline healthcare workers next week. The following week, he expects the state will have enough vaccines for all nursing home residents and employees. But the vaccine will likely not be available for the general public until the spring or summer as the COVID-19 spread regularly sets new peaks both nationally and statewide. Mississippi's rolling seven-day average for new cases, now at 1,927, has reached a new record in six of the last nine days, and is up 40% in the last week and a half. Recent numbers, layered with the concurrent cold season and winter holidays, have health officials begging the public to take new levels of precaution. "I think as a society we’ve let our guard down, we’ve become more comfortable with certain things," Dr. Alan Jones, assistant vice chancellor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said at a press conference last week. "It’s not the super-spreader events or some of the things we saw in the (summer peak). It’s smaller gatherings where people feel safe. Those events are not safe." Wednesday's executive order also put forth new restrictions on indoor sporting events; at schools, crowds are limited to the lesser of four spectators per student participant or 250 ticketed spectators. Other indoor arenas will be limited to the lesser of 10% seating capacity or 1,000 attendees. Reeves also announced that Mississippi Emergency and Management Agency Director Greg Michel, who regularly joins the governor and Dobbs at press conferences, had tested positive for the virus, and Michel did not appear at Wednesday's briefing. The 61 counties now under a mask mandate are: Adams, Alcorn, Amite, Attala, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Coahoma, Copiah, Covington, Desoto, Forrest, Franklin, Grenada, Harrison, Hinds, Holmes, Itawamba, Jackson, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Kemper, Lafayette, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Leflore, Lincoln, Lowndes, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Neshoba, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Panola, Pearl River, Perry, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Stone, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Washington, Webster, Winston, Yalobusha and Yazoo Counties. This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license." data-src="https://mississippitoday.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=913045&ga=UA-75003810-1" />

Due to the rapidly rising burden of COVID-19 cases, excessive hospitalizations and the high risk of COVID-19 infection in the community, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is issuing the following Public Health Guidance. All residents of Mississippi should avoid any social gathering that includes individuals outside of the nuclear family or household. MSDH recommends that Mississippians only participate in work, school or other absolutely essential activities. MSDH recommends that all Mississippians protect themselves and their families by avoiding public or social gatherings such as the following: • Social events or parties • Family gatherings outside of the household or nuclear family • Weddings • Funerals (other than close family and preferably outdoors) • Sporting events • In-person church services Thomas Dobbs, MD, MPH State Health Officer

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