Free community COVID testing now at JDC Health Department
Published 12:22 pm Thursday, January 27, 2022
Free community COVID-19 testing is now being offered at the Jefferson Davis County Health Department. Rapid and PCR tests are available Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon. The health department is located at 1185-A Frontage Road in Prentiss. No insurance or id is required. Visit covidschedule.umc.edu/selectlocation to register.
Jefferson Davis County has had 2,607 reported cases of the virus and 43 related deaths as of Wednesday. An increase of 225 cases since Jan. 15.
MSDH recorded 6,596 new positive test results and 19 additional deaths Wednesday. The state has now had 705,598 cases and 10,774 deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to rank community transmission as high across all U.S. states, covering 99.72 percent of all counties. Only seven of the nation’s 3,213 counties are ranked otherwise — one in Nebraska and one in Montana are marked as “substantial” transmission; and three counties in Texas and one in Nebraska are ranked with low community transmission.
Community transmission is determined by counting new cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days and percentage of positive tests over that same time period.
Less than 10 cases and less than 5 percent positive tests equal low transmission. Moderate transmission is 10-49.99 new cases and 5-7.99 percent positive tests. Substantial transmission is 8-9.99 percent new positive test results and 50-99.99 new cases. High transmission represents 100 or more new cases and an increase of positive test results at 10 percent or greater.
Mississippi has had 59,465 new cases in the previous seven days and a greater-than 25 percent increase in positive test results. The state has recorded 109 deaths in that time, and 189 new hospital admissions. The CDC reports 53.1 percent of Mississippians have been fully vaccinated.
The MSDH confirmed its 10th pediatric death in a child under 18 Wednesday. None of the 10 pediatric deaths were vaccinated. Vaccinations are now available for any child five years of age and older at all county health departments. Boosters are recommended for those over 12 to prevent hospitalizations and death.
