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A new Centers for Disease Control report confirms that Mississippi still leads the nation in preterm births. In 2021, just under 15% of all births in the state were pre-term. Only around 11% of all births were classified as “late preterm,” giving Mississippi the highest rate of moderate or early preterm births as well.
For the first time in Mississippi since the pandemic began, a baby has died of COVID-19, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported today. State health leaders confirmed only that the latest child victim is an infant less than a year old.
As many Mississippi children have died of COVID-19 over the past month as died during the first 17 months of the pandemic combined. The Mississippi State Department of Health reports that the latest pediatric victim is younger than 5 years old.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves is not relenting in his opposition to issuing an order mandating masks in all public schools statewide even though a 13-year-old girl died of COVID-19 after starting eighth grade in a mask-optional school district.
At least 5,993 Mississippi students tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two weeks, according to data the Mississippi State Department of Health released today.
The Delta variant, coupled with low vaccination numbers, has since caused the pandemic to surge to levels not seen in the Magnolia State since January. The seven-day average for new cases is now up 752% since June 22, 2021. But Gov. Reeves spent the week traveling to Colorado and Florida.
Hattiesburg residents could win one of six $2,500 cash prizes for getting vaccinated for COVID-19 before Aug. 8.
As Gov. Tate Reeves lifted mask mandates on March 3, 2021, some cities like Hattiesburg extended their rules. Others, including Oxford, did not. Meantime, local businesses hoped to recoup lost business despite ongoing risks.
A new study suggests a statewide mask mandate would boost Mississippi’s economy, but that Gov. Tate Reeves’ current strategy of implementing mask mandates on a county-by-county basis may be harming business.
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