As of mid-day on March 24, 2020, Mississippi has 320 reported cases of Covid-19 with 1 reported death, placing it squarely in the median of affected states around the country.  In response to the public threat, the Clarion Ledger newspaper reports Governor Tate Reeves has rejected calls to close businesses outright, instead opting for restrictions on public gatherings to combat the spread of the coronavirus.  He is expected to sign executive orders on Tuesday, March 24, implementing the restrictions, and while he has declined to preview the contents, he says the order might limit gatherings, restaurant dining and visits to nursing homes and hospitals.  However, any contemplated executive orders will stop short of a mandatory state-wide lockdown on social contact.

 

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/24/mississippi-coronavirus-gov-reeves-issuing-new-orders-no-lockdown/2906338001/

 

In South Mississippi, the Harrison County Board of Supervisors, representing the second largest population in the state, has upon advice of Coast mayors rejected a request of local law enforcement for a county-wide curfew for all residents, but has closed the beaches to groups of larger than 10, citing the need to balance beneficial effects of exercise and outdoor activity with safety concerns.  https://www.sunherald.com/news/coronavirus/article241423256.html

 

The Mississippi Supreme Court has issued an emergency Administrative Order, revised on March 15, 2020, keeping Mississippi courts open but authorizing individual judges to control their general dockets by postponing jury trials through May 18, 2020 and to limit gatherings to no more than 50 people beyond persons involved in the day-to-day operations of the court.  https://www.wjtv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/72/2020/03/20-03-15-Emergency-Admin-Order-2.pdf