UPDATE: COVID cases in the community

Just like the entire nation, health care systems on the Coast are seeing new cases of COVID pop up in the community.

Memorial Hospital currently has 24 COVID patients, seven of which are in the ICU.

In an effort to increase the vaccination rate in South Mississippi, Memorial announced five additional vaccination sites this week, bringing the total up to 14 sites across four counties.

To find a location visit gulfportmemorial.com.

Also, today, the Mississippi State Department of Health is reporting 1,199 additional COVID-19 cases as well as nine new deaths.