'Everyone working together to slow the spread is critically important,' governor says

Gov.

Tate Reeves urges Mississippians to do the small things to slow the spread of COVID-19.

THURSDAY WITH BREAKING NEWS JULYTHE 23RD.DR. DOBBS WILL GIVE US A FULLREPORT HERE IN JUST A FEWMINUTES ABOUT OUR NUMBERS.HE AND I HAVE BOTH BEEN STUDYINGTHE DAILY REPORTS THAT COME OUTON HOSPITALIZATIONS AND ANDCAPACITY ISSUES.WE DID HAVE RELATIVELY GOOD NEWSTODAY COMPARED TO THE LAST TWODAYS WITH SLIGHTLY LESS THAN ATHOUSAND NEW CASES REPORTED WEDID HOWEVER HAVE 13 NEW DEATHS.FORWARDED TODAY AND AS WE HAVESAID THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, WEALL AGREE THAT ONE DAY CERTAINLYDOES NOT A TREND MAKE BUT THEHOSPITALIZATIONS ARE ALSO STEADYDAY OVER DAY, WHICH IS CERTAINLYNOT A SIGN OF SUCCESS, BUT IT ISA SIGN OF HOPE WE CERTAINLY WANTTO SEE STABILIZATION IN TOTALNUMBER OF CASES AND ALSO ONHOSPITALIZATIONS.WE’RE A LONG WAY FROM SAYINGTHAT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.BUT TODAY IS A BETTER DAY WITHRESPECT TO THAT THEN YESTERDAYWAS I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR WITHEVERYONE ACROSS THE STATE.OUI.THEY’RE SITTING AT THIS TABLETHAT HAVE BEEN RAISING THE ALARMOVER THE LAST THREE TO FOURWEEKS ARE NOT TRYING TO INDUCEPANIC.WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THATTHERE IS A HEALTHY RESPECT.THROUGHOUT THIS STATE FOR THISDEADLY VIRUS.AND THIS DEADLY THREAT.THERE WERE TIMES.IN THIS PANDEMIC WHEN FEAR WASREALLY OVER THE TOP.NOW THE PENDULUM HAS REALLYSWUNG.IT SEEMS IN WHICH WE HAVE TOOMANY PEOPLE WHO ACTING AS IFTHIS VIRUS DOESN’T EXIST.THEY’RE ACTING CARELESS.THEY’RE ACTING AS IF IF THEREARE ONLY WORRIED ABOUTTHEMSELVES, THEY FEEL LIKE THEYCAN BEAT THE VIRUS.AND SO WHY DOES IT MATTER?I WANT TO JUST SUM UP FOR THOSEOF YOU ACROSS THE STATE AS TOWHY WE ARE.BEING SO FORCEFUL IN OUR HONESTANALYSIS OF WHERE WE FINDOURSELVES.SO MANY WANT TO TALK ABOUTSURVIVAL RATE.THAT IS IF I GET THE VIRUS AM I-LIKELY TO DIE?ET THE VIRUS AM I-AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THESURVIVAL RATE FOR THIS VIRUS ISCERTAINLY BETTER THAN THE FIVEOR SIX PERCENT THAT IT LOOKEDLIKE EARLY ON BUT WE ALSO KNOWTHAT THE SURVIVAL RATE FOR THISVIRUS IS SIGNIFICANTLY.SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE THAN THECOMMON FLU BUT I ALSO WANT YOUTO KNOW WHETHER IT’S TO 5% OR 25PERCENT SURVIVAL RATE FOR YOU ASAN INDIVIDUAL.SURVIVAL RATE IS NOT THE ONLYISSUE AT HAND.WE HAVE TO ALSO FOCUS NOT JUSTON THE SURVIVAL RATE FOR EACHINDIVIDUAL IN THE STATE.BUT ALSO ON ARC HEALTH CARESYSTEM AS A WHOLE I WOULD TELLYOU THAT THE CATEGORY AND THISIS A 19 PAGE REPORT THAT THEDEPARTMENT DOES.VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY ABOUTHOSPITALIZATIONS AND OTHERTHINGS IF YOU LOOK AT THIS AND IWILL TELL YOU I SPENT HOURSEVERY DAY LOOKING AT THESENUMBERS.IF YOU LOOK AT THE CATEGORIES.OF INDIVIDUAL MISSISSIPPIANS WHOARE CONTRACTING THE VIRUS TODAYAND THE CATEGORIES THAT AREGROWING THE FASTEST.IT IS THOSE YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS.IT IS THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 30.IT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THOSE BYTHE WAY THAT ARE IN THEIR TEENS.WE’RE SEEING SIGNIFICANTINCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF CASESAMONGST THOSE 15 TO 19.CERTAINLY THE LARGEST CATEGORYOF TOTAL CASES ARE THOSE BETWEENTHE AGES OF 21 AND 30.AND THERE IS NO DOUBT WHILE ITCAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO THATTHAT CATEGORY OF INDIVIDUALS.THEIR SURVIVAL RATES ARE FARGREATER THAN SOMEONE WHO’S OVERTHE AGE OF 80 OR OVER THE AGE OF90?BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT FROM OURPERSPECTIVE, WE DON’T JUST LOOKAT IT.WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU THEFIRST ITERATION OF IN ANINDIVIDUAL WHO CONTRACTS THEVIRUS?WELL THAT’S IMPORTANT.IT’S NOT THE ONLY THING THAT ISIMPORTANT.IT’S WITHIN THAT 27 YEAR OLD.CONTRACTS THE VIRUS AND THENGOES HOME.AND GIVES IT TO A MOM OR DAD.WELL, MAYBE THAT MOM OR DAD ISGOING TO BE PERFECTLY FINE ASWELL BECAUSE THEY ARE HEALTHY.BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT MOM ORDAD?IS A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER?IN A NURSING HOME AND THEY TAKETHE VIRUS BECAUSE OF THISCOMMUNITY TRANSMISSION INTO THATNURSING HOME.UNKNOWINGLY BY THE WAY, NOBODYIS INTENTIONALLY SPREADING THEVIRUS AT LEAST.NO ONE HALFWAY SANE.IS INTENTIONALLY SPREADING THEVIRUS.BUT THIS IS THE ITERATIONS THATWERE DEALING WITH THE YOUNGPERSON GETS THE VIRUS THEY GOHOME BECAUSE THEY LIVE WITHTHEIR MOM OR THEIR DAD.I GIVE THEIR MOM OR THEIR DADTHE VIRUS THEN.IN THE THIRD ITERATION THE MOMOR THE DAD GOES INTO A NURSINGHOME.AND GIVES THAT VIRUS TO SOMEBODYWHO’S 75 YEARS OLD 85 YEARS OLDWHO’S MORTALITY RATE IS VERYDIFFERENT THAN THE FIRST PERSONWHO GOT IT.AND SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEARTHAT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUTTHE DANGERS OF THIS VIRUS.WE ARE NOT FOCUSED ON ANINDIVIDUAL 21 YEAR OLD SURVIVALRATE.WE’RE FOCUSED ON OUR HEALTH CAREAS A WHOLE.BECAUSE I CAN ASSURE YOU THATWHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE WHENWE GET A VACCINE.AND WE WILL WE ARE THE GREATESTCOUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THEWORLD.WE WILL ULTIMATELY FIND AVACCINE.IT’S NOT GOING TO BE ME, BUTIT’S GOING TO BE THE SCIENTIST.IN AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICALCOMPANIES THAT COME UP WITH AVACCINE.WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE?WE LOOK BACK AT THE VIRUS.WE MAY FIND THAT THE SURVIVALRATE.IS MUCH HIGHER THAN WEORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.BUT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUTPROTECTING OUR HEALTH CARESYSTEM.TEN YEARS FROM NOW WHEN I LOOKBACK AT THE SURVIVAL RATE OFTHIS VIRUS.THEY’RE NOT GOING TO TAKE INTOACCOUNT SOMEONE.WHO WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILEACCIDENT?THEY COULD NOT GET THE HIGHESTQUALITY OF CARE BECAUSE THEREWERE NO ICU BEDS AVAILABLE FORTHAT PERSON AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.AND SO IS STATE LEADERS WORKINGWITH OUR HOSPITALS AND OURHEALTHCARE SPACE?WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CANTO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THEHEALTHCARE SYSTEM.SO THA EVERYONE IN OUR STATETHAT NEEDS QUALITY CARE NOT JUSTTHOSE WHO HAVE COVID BUT EVERYSINGLE MISSISSIPPIAN CAN GETTHAT QUALITY CARE.I’VE BEEN ACCUSED OF A LOT OFTHINGS.OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS QUITEFRANKLY.I’VE BEEN ACCUSED OF A LOT OFTHINGS OVER THE LAST 17 YEARS,AND I’M USED TO IT AND I’M OKAYWITH IT.BUT UNDERSTAND THIS THERE IS NOINCENTIVE FOR ME TO SIT HEREEVERY SINGLE DAY AND SPREADIRRATIONAL FEAR.YOU WILL BE FAR MORE POPULAR ANDFAR MORE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR ME TOGET UP HERE AND SAY YOU DON’TNEED TO SACRIFICE IT ALLEVERYTHING’S GOING TO BE JUSTFINE.YOU WOULD ALSO BE A LOT EASIERFOR ME TO GET UP HERE.AND MAKE THE POPULAR DECISIONSTHAT SO MANY OTHER STATES HAVEMADE TO IMPLEMENT THIS ORIMPLEMENT THAT IF EVERY OTHERSTATES DO IT AND WE’LL JUST DOIT AND WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.BUT THAT’S NOT WHY I RAN.GOVERNOR I RAN BECAUSE I WANTEDTO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER.TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS TOMAKE MISSISSIPPI A BETTER PLACE.AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I’MTRYING TO DO EVERY SINGLE DAY, IBELIEVE.THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS THEBEST PATH TODAY.TO PREVENT MORE DEATHS IN OURSTATE THAN HAVE TO OCCUR.WE’RE NOT GOING TO STOP THESPREAD OF THE VIRUS.WE CANNOT ELIMINATE.ALL FUTURE DEATHS BUT WE CAN DOTHE LITTLE THINGS AS A PEOPLE.BY WEARING A MASK IN PUBLIC BYSTAYING SOCIALLY DISTANCE BYAVOIDING LARGE GROUPS IF WE WILLDO THOSE THINGS.I THINK WE CAN MAKE ADIFFERENCE.I DO WANT TO SAY TO THE PEOPLEOF OUR STATE?WE ARE SEEING MORE POSITIVESIGNS.THAT YOU WERE TAKING THISSERIOUSLY.I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FORTHAT.I’M HEARING MORE ANECDOTALEVIDENCE EVERY DAY.OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO REACHOUT TO ME AND SAY I CAN’T TELLYOU.HOW MUCH BETTER I FEEL TODAYBECAUSE I WENT IN A RETAIL STOREAND I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE INTHERE WEARING A MASK.IN FACT EVERYONE IN THERE WASWEARING A MASK.OUR PEOPLE ARE ARE NOW PAYINGATTENTION AGAIN.I THINK THAT’S VERY POSITIVE.WE’VE GOT MORE WORK TO DO.I DO BELIEVE THAT OUR INCREASEDFOCUSED.CAN AND WILL HAVE AN IMPACT.IF WE CAN GET OUR CITIZENS.TO WEAR MASKS IN PUBLIC TO DOTHE LITTLE THINGS WE CAN SLOWDOWN THE SPREAD OF THECORONAVIRUS.DR. DOBBS.WE GIVE US AN UPDATE ON OURNUMBERS.YES, SIR.OF COURSE.THANK YOU GOVERNOR.SO TODAY WE’RE REPORTING 982.IT’S KIND OF SHOCKING WHEN THATSEEMS LIKE IT’S A GOOD NUMBER.STILL ALMOST A THOUSAND CASESREPORTING TODAY.WE WE ARE REPORTING 13ADDITIONAL DEATHS.IF WE LOOK AT OUR HOSPITALCAPACITY, WE SEEING ONGOINGSTRAIN IN THE IN THE HEALTH CARESYSTEM ARE TOTAL HOSPITALIZEDPATIENTS WITH CONFIRMEDCORONAVIRUS IS NOT AS 975.WE’VE HAD A MILD DROP IN OURTOTAL.I SEE YOU USE IT AT 278 BUT ANINCREASE IN PATIENTS ON THEVENTILATORS UP TO 160 3 AGAIN,THE ICUS ARE FILLED ABOUT 40%ESSENTIALLY WITH COVID PATIENTS.SO A BIG A BIG PROPORTION ISCERTAINLY STRAINING THE HEALTHCARE.WE HAVE EIGHT HOSPITALS WITHZERO ICU BEDS, BUT I WOULD LIKETO SAY THANK YOU TO THE HEALTHSYSTEMS AND HOSPITALS ACROSS THESTATE WHO ARE WORKING VERYDILIGENTLY TO ADD ADDITIONALINTENSIVE CARE SPACE FOR YOU ANDYOUR FAMILIES.WE’VE SEEN THEM ADD MORE BEDS ONONLINE SO THAT THERE’S CAREAVAILABLE.BUT THIS IS THIS IS REALLY ASTRAIN, YOU KNOW, IT’S KIND OFLIKE WHEN YOU HAVE TO WORK 80HOURS IN A WEEK WHEN YOU’RE NOTUSED TO WORKING THAT HARD.I MEAN, THAT’S WELL.NO ONE SHOULD BE USED WORKINGTHAT HARD, BUT YOU KNOW, IT’SSOMETHING THAT’S GOING TO BEHARD TO SUSTAIN.BUT THANK OUR LIKE TO THANK THEMFOR BRINGING THOSE THOSE BEDSONLINE TO TAKE CARE OF SICKMISSISSIPPIANS.THE OTHER THING I’D LIKE TO SAYIS WITH TESTING.PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IF YOU NEEDTO GET TESTED FOR CORONAVIRUS,YOU CAN USE ONE OF THE NO-COSTSTATE OPTIONS.WE STILL HAVE THE DAILY TESTINGMONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AT THEOLD FARMER’S MARKET ON WESTSTREET, SO YOU CAN CALL GET ANAPPOINTMENT IF YOU NEED ONE.AND TODAY WE HAVE WE HAVEADDITIONAL TESTING AT LEXINGTONAND TUPELO.TOMORROW WE’LL BE IN BRANDON ANDHEIDELBERG AND THEN ON SATURDAYSOUTH HAVEN AND PONTOTOC, SO IFYOU NEED TO GET TESTED FORCORONAVIRUS REMEMBER THAT THAT’SAN OPTION FOR YOU IF YOU THINKYOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED ORIF YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY ANYSYMPTOM OF CORONAVIRUS, THANKYOU GOVERNOR.THANK YOU.DR. DOBBS THIS TIME.I’M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TODIRECTOR MICHELLE.JUST A COUPLE THINGS I WANT TOBRING UP WITH REGARD TO PUBLICASSISTANCE FOR COVID AS YOU’VEHEARD ME TALK HERE OVER THE LASTFEW PRESS CONFERENCES ABOUT THECOVID EMERGENCY.BE FUN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, WHICHIS OPEN RIGHT NOW FOR COUNTIESAND MUNICIPALITIES TO MAKEAPPLICATION ON THAT FEMA ISGOING TO BE PROVIDING SOMEONLINE WEBINARS FOR TRAINING FORTHOSE COUNTIES ANDMUNICIPALITIES THAT MAY NOT BEAS FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO FILEAPPLICATION UNDER PUBLICASSISTANCE STARTING ON MONDAYAND RUNNING ALL THE WAY THROUGHFRIDAY ON EACH DAY A DIFFERENTTIME ZONES DIFFERENT TIMES FEMAWILL BE PROVIDING ZOOM MEETINGSON TOPICS SUCH AS A GRANTSPORTAL APPLICATION, BASICALLY.COVID-19 S APPLICATIONS OVERVIEWAND EMERGENCY PROTECTIVEMEASURES AND DONATED RESOURCES.THOSE THINGS WILL BE PROVIDED.MY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENTWILL LIST THOSE ON OUR WEBSITE.THOSE WILL BE LISTED BY FRIDAYAND YOU CAN GO ON AND LOOK ATTHAT AND WHEN THOSE TIMES AREAND THEN THE LINK FOR THOSE ZOOMMEETINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE FORTHOSE OF YOU THAT CAN’T MAKE THESCHEDULE TIMES.THEY WILL BE AN ON-DEMANDYOUTUBE VIDEOS THAT YOU CAN GOIN AND CAPTURE THOSE VIDEOS ATYOUR LEISURE JUST A TROPICALSTORM UPDATE IS OR WHERE THEMAIN STORM THAT WE’VE GOT.ARE THESE STORMS?WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON RIGHT NOWTROPICAL STORM.GONZALO THINGS.YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THISSTORM.THE STORM IS MOVING OUT OF THEATLANTIC INTO THE CARIBBEANBASIN AND WILL DO SO OVER THECOURSE OF THE NEXT FEW DAYS ISEXPECTED TO BE JUST IN THEVICINITY JUST SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OFCUBA ON OR ABOUT MONDAY.THE STORM ALSO IS A RELATIVELYSMALL COMPACT SYSTEM, WHICHMEANS IT IS GOING TO TO BESUSCEPTIBLE TO ENVIRONMENTALCONDITIONS.EITHER BOTH GOOD OR BADDEPENDING ON WHAT THOSEENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WOULDBE.SO WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TOWATCH THIS.THIS COULD BE OUR FIRSTHURRICANE TO ENTER THE GULF.WE HOPE THAT IS NOT THE CASE ANDBECAUSE OF THAT.I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONEABOUT THE SHELTERING OPERATIONSDURING A COVID ENVIRONMENTSHELTERING THE OPERATIONSHELTERING SPACES ARE GOING TOBE EXTREMELY LIMITED MORE.SO THIS YEAR THAN THEY WERE INSEASONS PAST WANT TO REMINDEVERYONE TO PLAN EARLY TOEVACUATE EARLY OUT OF THE ZONE.IN TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITHFRIENDS OR FAMILIES OR IN HOTELSTO EVACUATE SO THAT YOU CAN STAYOUT OF CONGRESS SHELTERS, AND WEWILL BE PROVIDING ADDITIONALINFORMATION NEXT WEEK ABOUTNON-CONGREGATE SHELTERINGPROCESSES AND WAY TO GETASSISTANCE TO BE ABLE TO DO THATAND THEN FINAL NOTE.I JUST WANT TO THANK THECOMPANY’S IN MISSISSIPPI FORCOMING TO OUR AID AND CONTINUEPROVIDE A SUPPORT THEY COME TOUS EVERY TIME WE NEED HELP.THEY’RE ALWAYS THERE ANDDISCUSSIONS AS LATE AS EVENEIGHT AND NINE O’CLOCK LASTNIGHT WITH PEOPLE THAT WEREHELPING US WITH.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSECOMPANIES IN MISSISSIPPI THATHAVE STOOD BESIDE US AND BEENGREAT PARTNERS GOVERNOR THATCONCLUDES MY UPDATE.THANK YOU VERY MUCH.I’M JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU ONENUMBER, WHICH I THINK PROBABLYBETTER THAN ANY OTHERILLUSTRATES WHAT WAS TALKINGABOUT OTHER LITTLE EARLIER.ABOUT THE ITERATIONS OF THISPARTICULAR VIRUS YOU MAY RECALLTHAT WE SAT HERE.AFTER HAVING A CONVERSATION WITHTHE PRESIDENT AND THE WHITEHOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE.AND WE PUT FORTH IN ANINITIATIVE THE LAST TWO WEEKS OFMAY THAT OVER 14 DAYS WE WEREGOING TO TEST EVERY SINGLEEMPLOYEE.AND EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT OF OURNURSING HOMES IN LONG-TERM CARECARE FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATENOW THAT WAS A MONUMENTAL TASKTHAT I TASKED THE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH WITH AND NOW THEY’REPARTNERS AT MEMA AND THEIRPARTNERS THAT ARE FANTASTIC,MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD.THEY DEVELOPED A PLAN.THEY WENT TO WORK AND WITHIN 14DAYS.THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THAT DONEJUST AS WE HAD ASKED THEM TO DO.WHAT WE FOUND AND IT WASAPPROXIMATELY 30,000 TESTS THATWERE RUN.AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE WERE ABLETO REDUCE THE NUMBER OFOUTBREAKS IN LONG-TERM CAREFACILITIES IN MISSISSIPPI TO ANUMBER THAT WAS LESS THAN AHUNDRED AND I BELIEVE IT GOT ALLTHE WAY DOWN TO ONLY 85STATEWIDE.SINCE THAT TIME THAT NUMBER HASDOUBLED I JUST LOOKED ON THEWEBSITE.THAT’S WHAT I WAS DOING WASLOOKING AT MY PHONE LOOKING ATTHE DATA.WE NOW HAVE A HUNDRED ANDSEVENTY OUTBREAKS IN LONG-TERMCARE FACILITIES.WE CAN LOOK AT THE DATA.WE KNOW THAT SOMEONE WHO GETSTHE VIRUS.THAT IS OVER.THE AGE OF 70 IS MUCH MORELIKELY TO HAVE A NEGATIVEOUTCOME AND SOMEONE WHO ISYOUNGER.BUT THE REAL EVERY WE HAD TESTEDEVERYBODY.SO BY THE END OF MAY WE HADTESTED EVERYBODY AND SO THOSEWHO HAD TESTED POSITIVE WE’VEBEEN ABLE TO ISOLATE THEM.BUT WHEN THERE’S COMMUNITYSPREAD THE EMPLOYEES GET IT FROMSOMEONE ELSE.AND THEN IT GETS BACK IN THEFACILITIES AND THAT’S GOING TOLEAD TO NEGATIVE OUTCOMES FORSOME OF THOSE RESIDENTS.IT’S JUST IT’S UNFORTUNATE, BUTIT’S INEVITABLE.AND SO THAT’S WHY EVERYONEWORKING TOGETH