Active COVID Cases Continue To Decrease
With fewer new cases of coronavirus cases in recent days, Yalobusha EMA Director Dalton Coleman is cautiously optimistic that the spread of the virus in the county has peaked. Coleman said that flattening the number of cases is also dependent on people in the county following the recommended guidelines.
WATER VALLEY – The number of active COVID-19 cases continues to decline in the county, dropping to 20 on Tuesday according to Yalobusha County EMA Director Dalton Coleman.
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) tracks the number of active COVID-19 and provides the addresses to EMA directors across the state in order for the information to be logged in the county’s dispatch center. This information is provided to fire emergency personnel including fire fighters, police or medical responders if they are toned out to an address with an active case.
Coleman also explained that the number of active cases changes daily, as new cases are confirmed in the county and old cases are deemed no longer active. Coleman reported that a total of 138 cases have been confirmed in the county since the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) first started providing daily reports on March 11.
Coleman reported that recent statistics indicate the number of new cases in the county could be flattening and is cautiously optimistic that the spread of the virus in the county may have peaked. But he also shared strong words of caution.
“We can’t let our guard down,” the EMA director stressed as he urged residents in the county to not become complacent. He reiterated the importance of simple guidelines including not touching your eyes, nose or mouth; washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; and wearing face masks when you are in crowded spaces such as a business.
Coleman also noted that free face masks will be available at the Tillatoba Fire Department Thursday afternoon from 2:30 to 4 p.m. as distribution continues across the county. He said the masks will be available at the fire department until supplies are exhausted or time runs out.
State Statistics
Statewide there have been 19,799 confirmed cases of the virus according to Monday’s statistics provided by MSDH. Of that total, 15,323 patients are presumed recovered. MSDH reports a person who tests positive for the virus is presumed recovered if it has been 14 days or more since the case tested positive if the patient was not hospitalized, or if it has been 21 days or more since the case tested positive if they were hospitalized or hospitalization was unknown. Deaths are also excluded and the state has recorded 895 deaths.
MSDH reports the number of deaths in Yalobusha County remains at seven, all at a long-term care facility.
