Covid case count rises in Mississippi Co.

Saturday, August 7, 2021

As they have across the state, Mississippi County’s active covid case number rose from 109 to 167 in the past week.

During his weekly press conference, Blytheville Mayor James Sanders also reported that approximately 30 percent of adults in the county have been fully vaccinated, with an additional 8 percent partially vaccinated. However, there has been evidence throughout the state that the delta variant is having a stronger impact on children than the original strain of COVID-19.

In Gov. Asa Hutchinson's Aug. 3 covid briefing, the secretary of health Dr. Jose Romero reported that nearly 19 percent of the state’s active cases are in children under 18 years old. He also said that children under the age of 12, who are not eligible for a vaccination, account for over half of that percentage.

Hutchinson called a special session that began Aug. 4 to amend current legislation restricting school districts from utilizing a mask mandate in effort to help protect students.

An outbreak in the Marion School District has placed more than 800 people into quarantine as of Aug. 5.

While precautions are being used to avoid an outbreak of this sort, the delta variant still presents a threat as county school districts begin to reopen. In the event that an outbreak does occur, Sanders pointed out there are resources such as the Office of Emergency Management and their federal assistance to help combat the spread.

However, Mississippi County health officer Dr. Valencia Andrews-Pirtle detailed the difficult predicament this could put the community into.

“We have solutions for a lot of things, but unfortunately, it can get to a point where there is no solution,” Pirtle said. “We really want people to help protect the community now.”

She added, “We want to stay a nice county and not get to the point where we have to beg others to take our patients because our hospitals are filled up.”

Many of the local school districts have looked to combat the delta variant by hosting covid vaccinations leading into the new school year. Additionally, despite there being no current mandates in place, Pirtle still advises that everyone wear masks as often as possible.

Sanders also reported increasing case counts in surrounding counties with Craighead reaching 882, Crittenton recording 198, Greene totaling 331 and Poinsett rising to 160.

For anyone looking to receive a vaccine, Sanders also reiterated that appointments can be made at all local pharmacies, hospitals and health departments, as well as local stores like Walmart and Walgreens.