Covid numbers starting to fall

While Northeast Arkansas as a whole is still considered to be a red zone, Mississippi County has seen a reduction in active COVID-19 cases.

In his Nov. 25 meeting, Mayor James Sanders reported that there were 230 active cases in the county. The week prior, cases in the county were near 300. As of press time, there were 240 active cases in the county.

“It’s our hope that by continuing to share this information we are able to help people to understand where we are with [COVID-19] we can continue moving the curve,” Sanders said.

Even with the reduction, Mississippi County Health Officer Andrews Pirtle, urged the community to remain cautious during the holiday seasons and remain vigilant about wearing a mask.

“This is good news but it not time to let your guard down,” Pirtle said. “Do not make this political. This is life or death. We’re still losing people and their families can’t even grieve properly. “

She also warned against travelling to large family gatherings, even if you feel healthy enough to do so.

“People are still traveling but that doesn’t mean it’s right,” Pirtle said. “We really don’t want to see a lot of get-togethers now and then more gatherings later for funerals.”

She also vouched for the upcoming vaccines to combat COVID-19. She acknowledged that health professionals would be the first to receive the vaccine, but she wished it could be sooner for the public.

“If there was one today, I’d get it. It’s the only way I can see us staying safe,” Pirtle said. “If you have fear about the vaccine, watch us get it.”

Blytheville School District superintendent Bobby Ashley also joined the Zoom meeting to discuss the district’s adjustments with COVID-19.

He stated that despite NEA being in a red zone, he believes the school is still doing well.

With contact tracing he also believes most of the district’s cases and/or close contacts have originated outside of school.

He continued to say currently the district does not meet the need to close face-to-face learning, but if it ever did, the decision would be in conjunction with the Arkansas Department of Health.

Ashley also urged parents to consider returning the virtual students to in-person learning if they are struggling with online.

“Be thinking very seriously about what you want to do with your student in the second semester. We don’t’ want any of our students to fail just because of the method they’ve chosen,” Ashley said. “We would like to have them back if virtual is something they are struggling with. We want them to do well and if doing well is face-to-face, then that’s what we need to do.”