NAS Meridian civilian tests positive for COVID-19; city sending home non-essential workers
Published 10:05 am Friday, March 27, 2020
- COVID-19 is affecting people age 60 and over at higher proportions as of March 27.
UPDATE: The Mississippi Department of Health reported 84 new COVID-19 cases Saturday morning for a total of 663. Thirteen people have died of the virus.
The new count lists 12 cases reported so far in Lauderdale County.
One case has been reported in Kemper County and three cases have been reported in Neshoba County. One case was reported in Clarke County in Saturday’s count.
The tests are being processed by the state Public Health Laboratory and private testing providers.
A civilian employee working at Naval Air Station Meridian’s Navy Exchange (NEX) retail store has tested positive for COVID-19, a base representative said in a news release Friday.
The employee, who was tested at a local hospital and is undergoing treatment there, had minimal contact with others, the release said.
The NEX main store and NEX Mini-Mart are closed for deep cleaning and employees have been sent home, according to the Navy. The store was expected to reopen soon.
“In consultation with the State of Mississippi Public Health and Navy public health officials it was deemed that a quarantine for additional personnel was not needed due to the lack of exposure to other NEX employees/associates or patrons,” the release said.
No COVID-19 testing is currently being conducted at NAS Meridian.
Contact tracing is underway, according to the Navy.
The city of Meridian announced Friday that only essential city employees will report to work, effective Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m. until Monday, April 20.
“The City is transitioning to prioritize essential operations – police, fire, public safety, water, and wastewater to ensure that residents continue to get the critical services they need during this time,” said Mayor Percy Bland in a statement.
The city also ordered the closure of non-essential businesses for two weeks, effective 5 p.m. Friday.
Among those considered non-essential in an executive order signed by the mayor Tuesday are: theaters, gyms and recreation centers, museums, bowling alleys and skating rinks, and sporting and concert venues.
“Businesses not listed as essential shall close on March 27, 2020 for 14 days unless they comply with CDC and MSDH guidelines and not be open to the general public other than by curbside to go, drive through, telework from home, or similar means where spread of the COVID-19 virus can be minimized and prevented,” the order states.
A nightly curfew remains in effect in Meridian from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., with exceptions for travel to and from work and pharmacies or for those seeking medical attention.
Lauderdale County leaders made no changes to the status of county facilities in a meeting Friday.
County offices remain open to the public with essential staff, with the exception of the Agri-Center, tax collector’s office and the Meridian/Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau.
Certain tax collector office services are available online.
The Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library remains closed until March 31.
Visitors and employees will still be required to have their temperature checked and answer health screening questions before entering certain county buildings, including the Raymond P. Davis County Annex Building and the Lauderdale County Courthouse.
People with concerns may call the Mississippi Coronavirus Hotline at 877-978-6453.
Please check back for updates.
| County | Cases | Deaths |
| Adams | 6 | |
| Amite | 1 | |
| Attala | 9 | |
| Benton | 2 | |
| Bolivar | 11 | |
| Calhoun | 3 | |
| Chickasaw | 10 | |
| Choctaw | 4 | |
| Clarke | 1 | |
| Clay | 2 | |
| Coahoma | 18 | |
| Copiah | 8 | |
| Covington | 1 | |
| Desoto | 65 | 1 |
| Forrest | 18 | |
| Franklin | 3 | |
| George | 1 | |
| Grenada | 2 | |
| Hancock | 9 | 1 |
| Harrison | 38 | 1 |
| Hinds | 58 | |
| Holmes | 13 | 1 |
| Humphreys | 2 | |
| Itawamba | 3 | |
| Jackson | 33 | |
| Jefferson | 1 | |
| Jones | 3 | |
| Kemper | 1 | |
| Lafayette | 11 | |
| Lamar | 4 | |
| Lauderdale | 12 | |
| Lawrence | 5 | |
| Leake | 4 | |
| Lee | 17 | 1 |
| Leflore | 15 | |
| Lincoln | 8 | |
| Lowndes | 10 | |
| Madison | 29 | |
| Marion | 3 | |
| Marshall | 11 | |
| Monroe | 3 | |
| Montgomery | 5 | |
| Neshoba | 3 | |
| Newton | 1 | |
| Noxubee | 2 | |
| Oktibbeha | 14 | |
| Panola | 4 | |
| Pearl River | 23 | |
| Perry | 2 | 1 |
| Pike | 12 | |
| Pontotoc | 4 | |
| Prentiss | 2 | |
| Quitman | 4 | |
| Rankin | 31 | 1 |
| Scott | 7 | |
| Sharkey | 1 | |
| Simpson | 2 | |
| Smith | 1 | |
| Sunflower | 7 | 1 |
| Tallahatchie | 2 | |
| Tate | 8 | |
| Tippah | 18 | 2 |
| Tunica | 6 | 1 |
| Union | 3 | |
| Walthall | 5 | |
| Washington | 13 | |
| Webster | 3 | 1 |
| Wilkinson | 11 | 1 |
| Winston | 4 | |
| Yalobusha | 3 | |
| Yazoo | 4 | |
| Total | 663 | 13 |
