Mayor of Wiggins Joel Miles passes away due to COVID-19 complications

WIGGINS, Miss. (WXXV) — Mayor of Wiggins Joel Miles has died due to complications from COVID-19.

The City of Wiggins announced the Mayor’s death on social media late Sunday night.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2911561702279533&id=122137944555270

Miles spent two weeks in the hospital fighting the novel coronavirus.

According to his wife Mary, he was transferred by medical helicopter from George Regional Hospital in Lucedale to Memorial Hospital in Gulfport two days before his passing.

She said in a post to Facebook on Saturday that her husband “was adamant about wearing his mask,” even when those around him did not.

Miles had undergone treatment for COVID-19 using monoclonal antibodies in November, receiving the drugs casirivimab and imdevimab.

The treatment, approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Nov. 21, is typically used in patients with mild to moderate cases of the coronavirus, but at high risk of developing severe cases.

Miles was elected as Mayor of Wiggins in 2013, winning that election with 75-percent of the vote.

Miles spearheaded many improvements and projects in Wiggins, including the building of a new police station, and several other developments.

This is a developing story. We will have more information later today.