Today’s update includes a link to Mayor Barker’s daily briefing, our local data and a new Executive Order to address late-night gatherings/crowds.
Local Data
Total tests: 37,709
Positive results: 4,176
Negative results: 32,145
Pending tests: 1,377
Hospital Data for Forrest General and Merit Health Wesley:
Hospitalizations: 90 (with 15 pending test results)
ICU Utilizations: 39
Total Positive Case Data Since March
Forrest County: 1,491
Lamar County: 1,011
Metro Area: 2,502
Estimate of Positive Cases within 14-Day Period
Forrest Co – Inside 14-Days: 386
Lamar Co – Inside 14-Days: 386
Metro Combined – Inside 14-Days: 772
Executive Order 2020-14
On Wednesday, July 29, Mayor Toby Barker issued new limitations for restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and dance halls through Executive Order 2020-14 in hopes to alleviate the spike of COVID-19 cases throughout Forrest and Lamar Counties.
“From the beginning, we’ve stated that our three goals in response to COVID-19 are to protect our vulnerable, prevent the overrun of our health care system and prioritize public health while giving our private sector the room to operate creatively,” said Barker. “Right now, goals one and two are not being met – and we have a small window to make decisions that can change that trajectory for the better.”
Barker stated in his daily briefing for Wednesday that both hospitals are operating by their surge plans for ICU space. Currently, both have 90 hospitalized and 39 in the ICU. Additionally, the Forrest and Lamar County metro area has seen an increase in 772 new positive cases in the past 14 days.
The new order will go into effect on Friday, July 31 and expire on Friday, August 17. It includes:
- Bars, nightclubs, music venues and indoor entertainment venues must close by 10 p.m.
- Restaurants must cease dine-in service (indoor and outdoor) at 10 p.m.
- Dance hall permits are suspended.
- Businesses must continue compliance with masks, distancing, capacity limits and other requirements from previous orders.
Daily Briefing
To hear Mayor Toby Barker discuss the notes for today, see the video below: