NATCHEZ, Miss. – New cases of Adams County residents infected by COVID declined Christmas week, but “expect these numbers to spike back up,” said county Emergency Management Director Brad Bradford.
The state Department of Health reported for Adams County only 37 new coronavirus cases in the week ending Dec. 26 — a marked decline from 104 reported the previous week and similar high numbers in December. However, Bradford said local holiday gatherings have likely further spread the virus.
The state Department of Health on Monday reported 60 Adams County residents have died from the respiratory disease, which has infected 1,830 Adams County residents since March. In December alone, eight COVID-related deaths occurred and about 350 new cases were reported for Adams County.
Meeting with the Adams County Board of Supervisors on Monday, Bradford said COVID vaccinations are ramping up this week in Natchez for health-care workers. This is part of the first phase of the nationwide inoculations that will eventually be given to anybody. Drive-through vaccinations begin Tuesday (Jan. 5) at the Adams County Health Department. Health-care workers wanting the shots must first register on the Department of Health’s website to ensure they’re eligible and can make an appointment. The first phase of the vaccinations also include those being provided at nursing homes for residents and staff.
The next phase begins next week for anybody age 75 or more, all educators and first-responders such as police officers, according to the state Health Department. Additional phases will be implemented in the coming weeks to eventually include anybody who wants to be inoculated.
COVID vaccines will also be allocated to private medical clinics. As of Monday, 174 Mississippi clinics have signed up to get them, according to the state Health Department.
While vaccines get distributed to protect people from COVID-19, more people will be infected until widespread public immunity is achieved. Mississippi has imposed various restrictions and mandates to slow the spread of the coronavirus. They include the requirement to wear masks in public places where crowds congregate and limits on the number of people gathered together.
“The most important task that we have is getting the vaccine out to the public. That is our only way out of all this,” said Gov. Tate Reeves. “I still believe everyone should continue to take social distancing seriously.”
Despite the precautionary measures and initiation of vaccines, Mississippi will remain in a “critical phase” for now as hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID patients, Reeves said at a new conference Monday. The state, he said, has more COVID patients than ever before in intensive care units.
At Merit Health Natchez, the 93-bed hospital had 20 COVID patients, including five in its eight-bed ICU, according to the state Department of Health’s latest count.
The head of Adams County’s ambulance service told county supervisors Monday that some patients have had to be transferred to hospitals in Hattiesburg, Meridian and other cities because of pressed capacity at Merit. AMR regional manager Tim Houghton said the company is hiring more employees to handle the increased demand for medical transports.
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