All over the nation life has taken a drastic and frightening twist from the coronavirus, and Marion County is no exception.
As of Tuesday there were 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Mississippi and 4,226 nationally, resulting in 75 deaths. There have been no deaths related to COVID-19 in the state and no cases in Marion County.
However, that doesn’t mean there is a strong sense of precaution all over the county. The state Education Department has shut down all extracurricular activities until March 29, and businesses throughout the Columbia area are restricting access to the public. Stores have also had trouble keeping shelves full as people buy up products like disinfectants and toilet paper.
But some citizens in Marion County said they feel this is more hype than anything.
“I really don’t know; the flu is as bad as the coronavirus here. If you get the flu just right it will do something to you, too. I don’t know if they are making a big thing out of it or not,” Beatrice Crumedy said.
“I think it is just a big scare,” Angie Cook said.
“I think they didn’t know about the flu when it came out; in a few years (coronavirus) will be like whenever anyone gets the flu,” 9-year old Haley Malone said.
Gloria Thurman said, “I think we have gone over-hype making a mountain out of a molehill.”
But local businesses are trying to follow the guidance from public health officials at the national and state levels who are promoting "social distancing" to prevent the spread of the virus. Recommendations are for Americans to avoid groups of more than 10 people, cancel discretionary travel and work or learn from home if possible.
President Trump has declared a national emergency, and Gov. Tate Reeves has done the same at the state level. Trump said Tuesday that he expects the trajectory of the outbreak may continue through July or August.
Reeves signed two executive orders Monday, the first one activating the Mississippi National Guard to support mobile testing units.
The second one was for state agencies to send non-essential workers home, and Reeves encouraged private businesses to do the same. He said paid leave will be provided to the government workers who miss work because of the outbreak, and he suggested the same for private businesses. He also said they are working with legislature to make sure it applies to everyone who could qualify.
Reeves also recommended the local school districts work with the state board of education to determine how long schools should be closed. The Columbia and Marion County public school districts are on spring break, and Columbia Academy extended its spring break for an additional week this week. Decisions about next week for the schools remained pending as of press deadlines.
With the necessary precautions being recommended, it is making it very hard for local businesses. Crystal Graham with Broad Street Restaurant said it is hurting their business in a bad way.
At Walmart in Columbia, Store Manager Mike Lowery said he has hired extra full-time staff whose only job is to clean. Walking through the store on the grocery side Monday, there are several blank spots where people have come in and bought all of the items. Items such as disinfectants and toilet paper cannot stay on the shelves.
The same was true at Ramey’s with disinfectants and toilet paper all being bought up. There were some customers at both places wearing face masks, and also a customer was seen shopping with rubber gloves on her hands.
Health care has also been thrown into a flux. Dr. Thomas Dobbs, the state health officer, said Monday in his briefing that clinics should cancel all non-necessary appointments to keep anyone from becoming affected and recommended all elective surgeries also be canceled for the time being.
Marion General Hospital this week initially restricted it to one visitor per patient and required everyone to enter through the emergency room door. Then on Tuesday the Columbia hospital, along with the other area hospitals associated with Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, announced new restrictions that include no visitors in the ICU or swing bed areas. Visitors are also banned in the ER with exceptions that allow one visitor per patient in the case of minors, elderly or dementia patients with their caregiver and end-of-life situations.
Nursing homes and correctional facilities are on lockdown, allowing no visitors in accordance with the state Health Department rules.
All throughout the city signs are posted asking people if they have flu-like symptoms or feeling ill to use the drive-through and not to come inside, and other places with restrictions include:
• At City Hall, it is being requested that water bills be paid online. There will be two drop box options to allow customers to drop off payments as well.
• The Columbia Police Department has closed its lobby for the time being and temporarily suspended all fingerprints and background checks. Accident reports can be ordered over the phone by calling (601) 736-8225.
• Domino's Pizza will be closing its door for four weeks, but the exact date of the closure had not been set as of press deadlines.
• McDonald's will allow drive-through and walk-in orders but no eating in the restaurant.
• The Marion Theater has cut down to two show times a day.
• The Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association has closed its lobby and requests people pay their bills either online, drive-through or the night deposit box.
• The Celebrate Sela 5K, which was scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed.
• The Dean Griner youth baseball and softball league has suspended all practices for the time being. The board will reevaluate the situation on Sunday.
• The Mississippi Gaming Commission closed down all casinos at midnight Tuesday.
• Dollar General announced the first hour of the day would be for senior citizens, who are most susceptible to serious illness from the virus, to give them a safe opportunity to shop.
• C Spire in Columbia will be temporarily closed.
The statewide cases, as of Tuesday morning, included:
• Three in Forrest County;
• Two in Pearl River County;
• Six in Hinds County;
• Two in Copiah County;
• One in Harrison County;
• One in Hancock County;
• One in Monroe County;
• One in Jackson County; and
• Four in Leflore County.
