Mississippi Governor Issues Order Delaying School Reopenings as COVID-19 Cases Rise

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Aug 04, 2020 11:56 PM EDT

Mississippi state Governor Tate Reeves released on Tuesday an executive order postponing the start of seven through 12-grade schools in the state's hot spot areas.

According to a report, areas with more than 200 cases or more than 500 cases per 100,000 people will have to delay the start of classes. Among the counties that have to delay the start of classes are Coahoma, Panola, Bolivar, Forrest, George, Hines, Sunflower, and Washington.

Aside from the delayed start, the state also orders teachers and students to wear a mask at public gatherings for two weeks. It will allow the schools to reopen safely.

"I believe in my heart we got to get kids back to school. I know I want to see college football this fall. The best way for that to occur is for us all to recognize that wearing a mask, as irritating as it can be, and I promise you I hate it more than anybody watching today, it is critical," Reeves said in a report.

The Mississippi state governor further noted that some schools are ready to go virtual. He added that he would allow who is closest to the classrooms to decide when should be the proper time to go back to school.

Reeves said they have to balance the real risk of the virus and the lifelong damage of school closures. He added that they have to provide education safely to the highest possible number of students.

"The best way to accomplish that is to provide guidelines, allow local school leaders to tailor them, and step in with the authority of state government where it is absolutely necessary. That is what we're doing today. This is the beginning of that effort, not the end," the governor said.

Reeves said the state is working closely with Mississippi's education department and health department in directing school districts in counties with a higher risk of community transmission.

Mask Mandate

Aside from school reopening delay, the new executive order also requires all state residents to wear a mask when inside a school building, or outside school campus when practicing social distancing is not possible.

The Mississippi Association of Educators has been calling for the delay of the start of in-person classes for a month so they can better manage the virus. Reeves was reported opposing the prolonging of school closures as it poses risks to children's development and learning, especially if they have two working parents.

Under the school reopening plans, Reeves said 51 districts plan to open this week, around 49 to start next week, and 14 to begin sometime the week of August 17.

The Corinth School District was among the districts first to reopen. They reported an individual at its high school, who tested positive during the first week of school.

On Tuesday, the school district reported an increase and said the number was up to five.

Mississippi COVID-19 cases

According to Harvard researchers, Mississippi ranked second only behind Florida when it comes to the number of daily cases per 100,000 people.

Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvard Global Health Institute tweeted that Mississippi is one state doing very badly in handling COVID-19, but has received little attention. Jha also said much of the state's bars and restaurants are open with only modest limits.

Dr. LouAnn Woodward, the top executive at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, said in a report on Monday that hospitals are feeling the increase in cases.

Woodward said if you look at the data, what the state has been doing has not changed the trajectory of the number of hospitalizations and cases. The top executive added that they need to do something different.