The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 2,343 new COVID-19 cases and 42 new deaths in the state on Wednesday, bringing the state’s totals to 185,643 cases and 4,294 deaths.

In Lauderdale County, 26 new cases and no new deaths were reported, bringing the county’s totals 4,294 cases and 159 deaths.

Mississippi has seen increasing COVID-19 hospitalizations in recent weeks. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said at a press briefing on Monday that hospitals in the state were “absolutely packed,” especially ICU services.

As of Tuesday, 11 adult COVID-19 patients were in the ICU at Anderson Regional Medical Center. Six out 29 total adult ICU beds were available in the hospital.

Seven adult COVID-19 patients were in the ICU at Rush Foundation Hospital as of Tuesday. Two out of 34 total adult ICU beds were available in the hospital.

COVID-19 case and death numbers for several local counties are listed below.

Newton County: 13 new cases; 1,349 total cases since March. No new deaths; 32 total deaths since March.

Kemper County: two new cases; 606 total cases. No new deaths; 19 total deaths.

Clarke County: five new cases; 1,056 total cases. No new deaths; 55 total deaths.

Neshoba County: 21 new cases; 2,635 total cases. One new death, which occurred between Nov. 28 and Dec. 15; 133 total deaths since March.

MSDH presumes 148,466 people have recovered from COVID-19. The department also reported that there are 239 ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-term-care facilities.

Gov. Tate Reeves has placed restrictions on the state to slow the spread of the coronavirus. 

At indoor social gatherings where social distancing is not possible, crowds must be limited to no more than 10 people in a single space, Reeves announced on Dec. 9. At outdoor social gatherings, no more than 50 people can gather in close proximity to each other.

Reeves is also requiring people in 61 counties — including Lauderdale, Kemper and Neshoba counties — to wear a face covering when indoors and interacting with the public.

The City of Meridian is under a mask mandate, which lasts until the end of the year.

COVID-19 data for Mississippi counties

County	Total Cases	Total Deaths	Total LTC Facility Cases	Total LTC Facility Deaths
Adams	1633	52	72	14
Alcorn	1873	36	118	17
Amite	764	16	52	3
Attala	1469	43	159	28
Benton	579	19	45	10
Bolivar	2908	90	224	30
Calhoun	928	15	25	4
Carroll	863	17	46	9
Chickasaw	1338	35	48	14
Choctaw	432	10	1	0
Claiborne	629	18	43	9
Clarke	1056	55	95	27
Clay	1130	28	20	3
Coahoma	1769	47	127	11
Copiah	1985	42	72	9
Covington	1615	62	105	34
De Soto	12433	116	103	20
Forrest	4581	93	191	42
Franklin	475	6	4	1
George	1523	30	47	7
Greene	890	25	50	6
Grenada	1748	51	140	24
Hancock	1564	49	68	13
Harrison	8990	130	427	47
Hinds	12228	229	589	89
Holmes	1490	63	103	20
Humphreys	648	21	33	8
Issaquena	136	4	0	0
Itawamba	1891	44	111	21
Jackson	7624	144	209	23
Jasper	1115	24	10	0
Jefferson	432	12	17	3
Jefferson Davis	680	21	8	1
Jones	4483	91	196	38
Kemper	606	19	43	9
Lafayette	3733	69	154	42
Lamar	3568	52	44	12
Lauderdale	4294	159	350	85
Lawrence	849	15	27	2
Leake	1662	45	53	7
Lee	6540	106	205	40
Leflore	2356	98	197	48
Lincoln	2248	73	166	36
Lowndes	3430	73	139	37
Madison	6114	123	301	57
Marion	1498	55	144	18
Marshall	2567	58	61	15
Monroe	2547	82	176	53
Montgomery	902	30	54	9
Neshoba	2635	133	177	54
Newton	1349	32	66	11
Noxubee	834	17	21	4
Oktibbeha	2950	66	202	31
Panola	2781	67	89	13
Pearl River	2083	74	138	26
Perry	757	29	20	7
Pike	1919	65	103	27
Pontotoc	2641	34	20	3
Prentiss	1798	40	98	15
Quitman	553	7	0	0
Rankin	7542	136	286	38
Scott	1862	33	35	3
Sharkey	360	17	43	8
Simpson	1745	57	143	19
Smith	880	17	55	8
Stone	993	18	63	9
Sunflower	2163	57	89	15
Tallahatchie	1112	29	33	7
Tate	2135	53	74	18
Tippah	1680	36	67	4
Tishomingo	1359	47	98	26
Tunica	675	19	15	2
Union	2323	27	79	11
Walthall	886	32	67	13
Warren	2219	67	156	31
Washington	3738	110	187	39
Wayne	1498	25	65	10
Webster	625	17	55	11
Wilkinson	487	22	21	5
Winston	1567	42	92	26
Yalobusha	857	30	81	22
Yazoo	1821	44	139	16
Total	185,643	4,294	8,549	1,587