The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 1,090 new cases of COVID-19 in the four-county Golden Triangle area over the past week.
The Delta variant continues to be the prominent strain of the virus throughout the state of Mississippi. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the best way to prevent COVID-19 and its variants is to be vaccinated. The CDC announced Monday that the Pfizer vaccine is now approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Mississippi saw 22,398 new cases over the past week, bringing the case total to 423,599 since the pandemic began, according to the MSDH website. There were 277 COVID deaths across the state over the past week, bringing Mississippi’s overall death toll to 8,214. Since last week, 25 new patients were admitted to intensive care units across the state due to COVID-19, with a total of 472 patients now in Mississippi ICUs.
There have been 2,358,386 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered to Mississippi residents as of 8 a.m. Thursday, according to the MSDH website. A total of 1,082,177 residents are fully vaccinated — a 36-percent vaccination rate — and 21,133 have received a booster shot, a third dosage of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccination.
Lowndes County reported 572 new cases and three deaths over the past week, bringing the county’s total to 9,011 cases and 159 deaths since the pandemic began. A total of 44,801 Lowndes County residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 21,096 (36 percent) fully vaccinated.
In Oktibbeha County, 282 residents reported contracting the virus, bringing the case total to 6,079. Seven new deaths were reported with a total of 109 deaths in Oktibbeha County since the pandemic began. There have been a total of 43,852 doses of the vaccine administered with 20,823 fully vaccinated — 42 percent.
Clay County had 190 positive cases and four deaths over the last week, bringing its totals to 2,559 cases and 60 deaths. A total of 13,982 doses of the vaccine have been administered to Clay County residents with 6,722 residents (35 percent) fully vaccinated.
Noxubee County reported 46 new cases, bringing its case total to 1,584. No new deaths occurred in Noxubee County, keeping the death toll at 36. A total of 9,033 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Noxubee County, with 4,458 (43 percent) fully vaccinated.
Lowndes County School District saw a range of 92 to 108 positive cases among students and 13 to 37 among staff during the week of Aug. 16-20, the latest data available on the MSDH website. Caledonia High School, which has been operating through virtual learning since Aug. 16, reported 26 positive cases in students and seven in teachers.
Columbus Municipal School District reported a range of 33 to 41 cases of COVID-19 among students and 4 to 20 among staff during the week of Aug. 16-20.
Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District saw 109 to 113 positive cases in students and 10 to 26 in staff reported.
West Point Consolidated School District had a total of 17 to 29 positive cases of COVID-19 among students during the week of Aug. 16-20 and 4 to 20 in teachers. WPCSD announced Monday the district would move to virtual learning until at least Sept. 7 due to an outbreak.
A range is given for schools reporting five cases or fewer. MSDH said these case numbers are suppressed to protect personal identity.
Over the last two weeks, 117 cases were reported at Mississippi State University — 103 students and 14 staff or faculty members — as of Thursday, according to the university’s website.
At the Mississippi University for Women, 10 students reported being positive for COVID-19.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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