Mississippi has reached a record number of hospitalizations, with COVID-19 confirmed in 523 people and suspected in 244 patients, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health.

State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said he’s seen “widespread abandonment” of social distancing guidelines and Mississippi should prepare for the state’s hospital system to be overwhelmed in the fall, the Jackson Free Press reported. 

“It’s just going to be bad,” he said in an  interview with the news outlet published on Tuesday. “Prepare for not being able to get into the hospital if you have a car wreck, (to) have a heart attack and there not be a ventilator to put you on.”

MSDH reported 526 new cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi Wednesday, for a total of 23,424 and 22 additional deaths, for a total of 1,011 deaths statewide. Twelve of the deaths occurred between May 30 and June 14 and were identified from death certificate reports, the health department said. 

State health officials reported six new cases of COVID-19 in Lauderdale County Wednesday, for a total of 856 and one additional death, for a total of 78 deaths. 

The county has the highest total of COVID-19 deaths in Mississippi and the sixth highest total of cases, behind Hinds (1646), Madison (1034), Desoto (990), Jones (965) and Neshoba (916), according to data. 

More than half of those from Lauderdale County who died, 49, lived in long-term care facilities, records show. 

MSDH reported 190 cases and 22 deaths in Clarke County, 169 cases and 13 deaths in Kemper County, 916 cases and 62 deaths in Neshoba County and 326 cases and eight deaths in Newton County. 

“Prevention at this time is critical,” MSDH said in a statement. “The State Health Officer urges all Mississippians aged 2 and older to wear a mask or face covering in public places.” 

Cases and Deaths by County

Totals of all reported cases since March 11, including those in long-term care (LTC) facilities.

County	Total Cases	Total Deaths	Total LTC Facility Cases	Total LTC Facility Deaths
Adams	234	18	43	10
Alcorn	41	1	1	0
Amite	79	2	12	2
Attala	338	23	89	19
Benton	22	0	1	0
Bolivar	230	13	24	4
Calhoun	100	4	23	4
Carroll	138	11	45	9
Chickasaw	203	18	36	11
Choctaw	67	3	0	0
Claiborne	180	9	43	8
Clarke	190	22	20	9
Clay	222	7	0	0
Coahoma	167	6	0	0
Copiah	503	12	15	3
Covington	248	5	1	0
Desoto	990	15	18	4
Forrest	742	42	95	29
Franklin	32	2	3	1
George	58	3	1	0
Greene	71	5	30	3
Grenada	226	4	17	2
Hancock	106	13	8	4
Harrison	514	7	15	2
Hinds	1646	34	91	13
Holmes	496	39	98	19
Humphreys	101	9	18	6
Issaquena	0	0	0	0
Itawamba	112	8	34	7
Jackson	439	16	38	5
Jasper	218	6	0	0
Jefferson	65	3	1	0
Jefferson Davis	93	3	3	1
Jones	965	48	143	31
Kemper	169	13	37	9
Lafayette	289	4	42	1
Lamar	355	7	3	2
Lauderdale	856	78	190	49
Lawrence	135	1	0	0
Leake	510	17	3	0
Lee	403	15	60	9
Leflore	434	48	168	33
Lincoln	396	32	110	25
Lowndes	399	10	19	6
Madison	1034	31	110	16
Marion	203	10	15	2
Marshall	148	3	4	0
Monroe	318	28	94	24
Montgomery	107	2	0	0
Neshoba	916	62	75	24
Newton	326	8	4	0
Noxubee	227	7	15	3
Oktibbeha	431	20	109	16
Panola	204	5	1	1
Pearl River	228	32	47	12
Perry	56	4	0	0
Pike	298	11	20	6
Pontotoc	156	3	3	1
Prentiss	81	3	24	3
Quitman	49	0	0	0
Rankin	636	12	20	0
Scott	709	14	13	2
Sharkey	18	0	0	0
Simpson	177	2	2	0
Smith	192	11	52	8
Stone	44	1	0	0
Sunflower	189	6	0	0
Tallahatchie	72	1	2	0
Tate	211	5	14	3
Tippah	109	11	0	0
Tishomingo	55	1	2	0
Tunica	78	3	12	2
Union	138	8	19	7
Walthall	147	3	0	0
Warren	358	15	39	9
Washington	329	9	7	1
Wayne	446	8	17	0
Webster	124	10	52	9
Wilkinson	86	9	5	2
Winston	194	4	8	1
Yalobusha	136	7	35	7
Yazoo	412	6	19	2
Total	23,424	1,011	2,437	501

The numbers in this table are provisional. County case numbers and deaths may change as investigation finds new or additional information about residence.