MSDH reports highest number of COVID cases in August

During the weekly Mississippi State Department of Health COVID-19 update, state health officials discussed already stressed hospitals, qualifications for monoclonal antibodies, and updates in COVID cases.

MSDH reports over 2,900 additional COVID cases today and 81 deaths. During the month of August, more COVID cases were reported than any other time in the pandemic.

As students returned back to school, there were reports of over 23,000 students quarantined and 500 teachers.

At any county health department, appointments for third dose booster shots are available. Anyone with active or recent treatments for solid tumors, receipts of organ or recent stem cell transplants, advanced or untreated HIV and other immunocompromised conditions qualify for the booster shot. State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said, “Previously back in December and January, were our previous peak month, you can see the number of cases that we’ve had to date in August alone is over 85,000 cases, and we’re not done with August yet. Certainly, we’re in September now, but cases that had onsets in August will still be reported, so we anticipate that number is going to increase.”

There are concerns about COVID cases spiking due to the number of Louisiana residents coming to Mississippi displaced due to Hurricane Ida. MSDH reports it is hard to gauge higher levels of COVID transmission at this time, but take precautions, avoid crowds and wear a mask when indoors.