The total number of COVID-19 cases in Mississippi surpassed 7,000 Friday, as health officials reported the single highest daily increase in cases statewide and shared concerns about trends in East Mississippi. 

“This thing is not over,” said Gov. Tate Reeves in a news conference. “We are not out of the woods yet. Things can change quickly.”

The Mississippi State Department of Health confirmed 16 new cases of COVID-19 in Lauderdale County Friday, for a total of 365 and three additional deaths, for a total of 23.

MSDH confirmed 85 people in long-term care facilities have tested positive for COVID-19 in the county and 14 people have died from those facilities.

Anderson Regional Medical Center was hospitalizing 22 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 Friday, according to Anderson’s website.

Rush Foundation Hospital is not providing daily hospitalization numbers.

Meridian Mayor Percy Bland said the city has seen an increase in cases in African American women between the ages of 18 and 45. 

Everyone inside businesses in the city should wear masks, he said.

Salons and barber shops remain closed to the public and code enforcement or Meridian police will investigate any reports of those that are open, Bland said.

The city announced Meridian Municipal Court will resume all activities at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 11 with certain requirements, including the use of masks and temperature checks. 

In Mississippi, state health officials reported 397 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, for a total of 7,212 and 20 additional deaths, for a total of 281.

Eleven of the statewide deaths reported Friday occurred between March 29 and April 16 and are based on death certificate investigations, MSDH said.

State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said Newton and Neshoba Counties are among four counties with a high or disproportionate number of cases. 

“Those four counties, without a large population, account for 20 percent of our new cases in the last week,” he said.

In Friday’s update, MSDH reported 205 cases and four deaths in Neshoba County, 87 cases in Newton County, 64 cases and three deaths in Kemper County and 55 cases and three deaths in Clarke County. 

Dobbs urged Mississippians to wear masks in public and avoid social events. 

As of Thursday, health department records show 71,548 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Mississippi.

Bonita Lakes Mall in Meridian reopened Friday.

Shoppers may enter through the front entrance only from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release.

All customers must wear a mask at all times and practice social distancing, the release said.

The stores reopening include Kirkland’s, Rainbow, Giorgio’s, Hibbett Sports, City Gear, Reeds Jewelers, Sports Additions, Finish Line, New Square and Shoe Dept. Encore.

American Deli will be offering curbside service.

The food court and parts of the common area will not be available and mall occupancy will be limited to 65 customers. Groups are limited to five people.

At the Crossing, Ashley Furniture HomeStore, Village Western Wear & Shoe Repair, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, JOANN, Cato Fashions and Tuesday Morning will also be open with varying hours, the release said.

Mississippi COVID-19 Cases to Date

Table of all total cases and deaths, and those in long-term care (LTC) facilities, since March 11, 2020.

County	Total Cases	Total Deaths	Total LTC Facility Cases	Total LTC Facility Deaths
Adams	148	8	25	4
Alcorn	10	1	0	0
Amite	29	0	1	0
Attala	109	0	26	0
Benton	12	0	1	0
Bolivar	102	7	13	1
Calhoun	52	3	23	3
Carroll	58	1	2	0
Chickasaw	75	8	22	6
Choctaw	13	1	0	0
Claiborne	23	0	0	0
Clarke	55	3	10	2
Clay	42	2	0	0
Coahoma	64	3	1	0
Copiah	108	1	1	1
Covington	67	0	0	0
Desoto	293	4	2	1
Forrest	219	12	21	6
Franklin	16	1	0	0
George	14	1	0	0
Greene	5	1	0	0
Grenada	32	0	14	0
Hancock	62	5	7	3
Harrison	177	6	1	1
Hinds	496	8	14	4
Holmes	153	9	27	2
Humphreys	24	3	5	1
Itawamba	59	3	32	2
Jackson	267	6	40	1
Jasper	48	1	0	0
Jefferson	20	0	0	0
Jefferson Davis	35	1	2	0
Jones	159	2	11	0
Kemper	64	3	14	1
Lafayette	89	3	35	0
Lamar	111	2	1	0
Lauderdale	365	23	85	14
Lawrence	46	0	1	0
Leake	219	2	0	0
Lee	71	4	5	0
Leflore	164	17	30	7
Lincoln	143	11	47	7
Lowndes	58	2	4	1
Madison	251	8	30	5
Marion	75	7	14	2
Marshall	44	2	0	0
Monroe	161	16	84	14
Montgomery	29	1	0	0
Neshoba	205	4	19	0
Newton	87	0	1	0
Noxubee	73	0	9	0
Oktibbeha	51	3	9	3
Panola	39	2	0	0
Pearl River	175	20	38	6
Perry	27	1	0	0
Pike	149	7	12	4
Pontotoc	18	2	1	0
Prentiss	32	1	20	1
Quitman	15	0	0	0
Rankin	194	5	6	0
Scott	339	0	10	0
Sharkey	5	0	0	0
Simpson	47	0	2	0
Smith	76	4	20	2
Stone	22	0	0	0
Sunflower	55	2	0	0
Tallahatchie	11	1	0	0
Tate	42	0	1	0
Tippah	56	10	0	0
Tishomingo	7	0	1	0
Tunica	35	2	12	2
Union	19	1	2	0
Walthall	32	0	0	0
Warren	74	2	1	0
Washington	77	3	4	1
Wayne	23	0	0	0
Webster	19	1	0	0
Wilkinson	69	7	5	2
Winston	44	0	0	0
Yalobusha	20	0	0	0
Yazoo	139	1	1	0
Total	7,212	281	825	110

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

–Mississippi Department of Health