Mississippi capital runs out of intensive care unit availability amid COVID-19 outbreak

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Jackson, Mississippi, has depleted the capacity of its intensive care unit (ICU) due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, health officials reported Thursday.

Public health official Thomas Dobbs told Mississippi residents to “protect yourself and your family” in a tweet alerting the public to the lack of intensive care beds in the state capital, first reported by CBS station WJTV.

As of Thursday, only 106, or 11.9%, of the state’s 888 adult intensive care beds were available for patients, according to data from the Mississippi Department of Health.

During an hour-long broadcast discussion with the health department, Dobbs stressed that the trajectory of coronavirus cases in the state was “very well in the wrong direction.”

Mississippi reported 1,271 new coronavirus cases and 17 deaths on Wednesday. Overall, the state has recorded a total of 130,665 cases and 3,514 deaths from COVID-19.

“If we don’t make changes immediately, we will see critical shortages of primary care for the critically ill and injured,” public health officials said, according to WJTV. “We know what works: social distancing, small gatherings and masks.”

Coronavirus cases are on the rise across the country, and experts say the situation will worsen as winter arrives and people are spending more time indoors.

In a press conference Thursday, Gov. Tate Reeves (right) said Mississippi would not participate in a nationwide lockdown, even if the federal government ordered one, reported WDAM, an NBC / ABC dual affiliate.

“We are not going to participate in a national lockdown,” he said, adding that shutting down the economy for six weeks would be “totally and completely beyond reason.”

Reeves’ comments came after an adviser to the president-elect Joe bidenJoe Biden Brewery Launches New Biden Beer Described As ‘Harmless And Not Too Bitter’ Deb Haaland Says ‘Of Course’ She Would Serve As Home Secretary Under Biden State Department Won’t Give messages to Biden from foreign leaders: MORE reportThe COVID-19 response force has suggested the country should undergo a four to six week lockdown to bring down the growing number.



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