JACKSON— Governor Tate Reeves has announced additional social distancing measures for thirteen counties identified as hotspots within our state to limit transmission around the communities and protect the health of all Mississippians.
Consulting with our state health experts, thirteen counties were identified as localized regions with spikes in cases and at a higher risk for transmission: Claiborne, Desoto, Grenada, Harrison, Hinds, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Quitman, Rankin, Sunflower, Washington, and Wayne Counties.
Governor Reeves signed a new executive order establishing additional restrictions for those thirteen counties to slow the spread of COVID-19, including requiring people to wear masks when at public gatherings or in a shopping environment and limiting social gatherings to no more than 10 indoors and 20 outdoors.
"Mississippi is in a fight for our lives. COVID-19 is an ever-present threat, and we are in the middle of a spike. It is putting a strain on our hospital system," said Governor Tate Reeves at a press briefing. "Today, I am announcing a new order which places tighter restrictions on thirteen counties that are seeing greater risk than others. Make no mistake. The risk is present everywhere. It is most visible in these counties."
The Governor made the announcement during yesterday's press briefing, which you can view on our Facebook page here.
You can view the signed version of Executive Order No. 1507 here.
It will also be available later on our website at governorreeves.ms.gov/covid-19.
Similar to the guidelines set out for other counties previously in Executive Order No. 1483, the Governor lays out targeted guidelines for social distancing and sanitation protocols to slow the spread of COVID-19 within the thirteen counties, including:
For all businesses:
For retail businesses (in addition to measures above):
For people out in public:
