As of 6 p.m. Monday, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported that there have been 111 deaths from a total of 3,087 COVID-19 cases in this state. Within Pearl River County, eight people have died as a result of the virus.
According to the MSDH website, Pearl River County has 93 confirmed cases of the upper respiratory virus. As reported last week, two local long term care facilities in Pearl River County reported COVID-19 outbreaks.
Issaquena County is still the only county in this state without a reported case of the virus.
Last week, MSDH personnel reported that the virus appears to affect black residents more than any other demographic. As of April 13, the stats show that 56.2 percent of the cases reported were in black residents, while 36.4 percent were in white residents. The remaining 7.4 percent was reported in people identified in the “other” category. In relation to deaths, 67 percent of the 82 deaths were reported to have involved black residents, and 33 percent were in white residents, MSDH reports.
Underlying conditions have been attributed to difficulties with a COVID-19 case. The worst of which was cardiovascular disease, where more than 60 deaths across all demographics occurred. Of those cases more than 40 were black and less than 20 were white. Other risk factors included diabetes, hypertension, obesity, lung disease or renal disease. In all of those categories, more black than white people died.
The only category where more white people were affected than black involved people with a neurological, neurodevelopmental or intellectual disability.
According to statistics on the MSDH website, deaths categorized in age groups entail: two deaths in the 30 to 39 age group; three deaths in the 40-49 age group; nine deaths in the 50-59 age group; 25 deaths in the 60-69 age group; 41 deaths in the 70-79 age group; 17 deaths in the 80-89 age group and 14 deaths in the 90 and older age group.
Of the total cases reported, 40.4 percent were males and 59.1 percent were females.
No deaths have been reported in people younger than 29-years-old in Mississippi.
The counties with 50 or more cases include; Adams with 62 cases; Bolivar with 69 cases, four deaths and two long term care facilities reporting outbreaks; Desoto with 188 cases and two deaths; Forrest with 114 cases, two deaths and two long term care facilities reporting outbreaks; Harrison with 121 cases, five deaths and two long term care facilities reporting an outbreak; Hinds with 263 cases, two deaths and four long term care facilities reporting outbreaks; Jackson with 157 cases, five deaths and two long term care facilities reporting an outbreak; Lauderdale with 156 cases, 11 deaths and four reported facility outbreaks; Leflore with 52 cases, six deaths and two long term care facilities reporting an outbreak; Lincoln with 56 cases, four deaths and two long term care facilities with outbreaks; Madison with 108 cases, three deaths and three reported facility outbreaks; Pike with 62 cases, one death and one long term care facility outbreak; Rankin with 105 cases and two deaths; Scott with 62 cases and one long term care facility outbreak; Washington with 57 cases, two deaths and two facility outbreaks and Yazoo with 64 cases and one death.
Statewide, a total of 37,733 people have been tested, either by the MSDH public health laboratory (9,412) or through external medical providers (28,321). The statistics for the total number of tests conducted was from April 12.