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Governor rolls back COVID-19 restrictions in Mississippi

K-12 mask mandate, social distancing still ordered
Angela Williams
Digital Media Manager
Governor rolls back COVID-19 restrictions in Mississippi

K-12 mask mandate, social distancing still ordered

AS 16 WAPT'S KEEGAN FOXX REPORTS - NOT EVERYONE AGREES WITH EASING RESTRICTIONS. GOVERNOR TATE REEVES - ANNOUNCING TUESDAY, HE'S LIFTING MASK MANDATES IN ALL MISSISSIPPI COUNTIES. HE'S ALSO LIFTING RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES. STARTING WEDNESDAY, BUSINESSES MAY OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY WITH NO STATE- IMPOSED RULES. <WE ARE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO USE THE HEAVY HAND OF THE GOVERNMENT WHEN IT IS NO LONGER JUSTIFIED WHEN THAT IS NOT THE REALITY WE SEE AROUND US..> IN RELAXING RESTRICTIONS, THE GOVERNOR CITES DECLINING COVID CASES AND THE ARRIVAL OF A THIRD VACCINE. SOME CITIZENS TELL US, THEY THINK IT'S TOO SOON FOR THE GOVERNOR TO RELAX RESTRICTIONS. <LACIA MOSES: I PERSONALLY HAVE KNOWN SOME PEOPLE TO DIE FROM COVID. AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S A BAD DECISION. I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH IT. > <BRENDA MCNAIR: I DON'T THINK THAT'S A WISE DECISION RIGHT NOW. > THE GOVERNOR AND STATE HEALTH OFFICER, DOCTOR THOMAS DOBBS SAY MASKS ARE STILL RECOMMENDED, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED. COVID IS STILL SPREADING AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE. THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS THOSE AGE 65 AND OLDER AND ADULTS WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS CONTINUE WEARING MASKS AND AVOID MASS GATHERINGS UNTIL THEY'RE FULLY VACCINATED <EVERYONE IN OUR STATE SHOULD CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO DR. DOBBS AND OUR OTHER HEALTH ADVISORS FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE WISDOM REGARDING HOW YOU CAN PERSONALLY AVOID ANY RISK OF CATCHING COVID.> NOW THAT THERE ARE THREE VACCINES, DOCTOR DOBBS SAYS IT'S UP TO YOU TO DECIDE WHICH ONE TO TAKE. JOHNSON AND JOHNSON, ARRIVING IN MISSISSIPPI THIS WEEK, REQUIRES ONE DOSE. BOTH PFIZER AND MODERNA ARE TWO SHOT VACCINES. <DOBBS: IT'S REALLY A PATIENT CHOICE ISSUE. I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH GETTING EITHER ONE OF THEM. BUT I THINK THE BEST VACCINE THERE IS FOR YOU IS THE ONE YOU CAN GET RIGHT NOW, HONESTLY.> KEEGAN FOXX JOINS US LIVE TONIGHT. KEEGAN, THE GOVERNOR DID MENTION, HE'S LEAVING SOME RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE. TELL US ABOUT THOSE. THE GOVERNOR IS LEAVING RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE FOR K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS AND 50 PERCENT CAPACITY LIMITS ON INDOOR ARENAS. AND BY THE WAY, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NO MASK MANDATE BY THE GOVERNOR, INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES MAY CHOOSE TO IMPLEM
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Governor rolls back COVID-19 restrictions in Mississippi

K-12 mask mandate, social distancing still ordered
Angela Williams
Digital Media Manager
Gov. Tate Reeves is lifting mask mandates and allowing businesses to operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules.The governor’s latest executive order replaces the one that expires at 5 p.m. Wednesday."Today, I signed what I expect will be one of my last executive orders regarding COVID-19. Our hospitalizations have plummeted, and our case numbers have fallen dramatically as well. In fact, our case numbers have fallen to the point where no county meets the original criteria for a mask mandate," Reeves said during a briefing Tuesday. Reeves said Mississippians are encouraged, but not ordered to continue to wear a face covering and practice social distancing. "Everyone should continue to listen to (State Health Officer Dr. Thomas) Dobbs and other health advisors for the best possible wisdom regarding how you can personally stem any risk of catching COVID. Their insight is valuable. The only rules that will remain in this order are a capacity limit of 50% on indoor arenas, and those that govern K-12 schools," Reeves said. The new order, which will remain in effect until March 31, requires K-12 schools to require masks when social distancing is not possible.“We’re not out of the woods. People still need to be careful,” Dobbs said. We are fortunate to have new tools. We have vaccines available that are highly effective, not only at preventing illness and severe illness, but a growing body of evidence that it does also prevent transmission, further reinforcing how important it is for folks to get vaccinated.” Dobbs said the Mississippi State Department of Health is putting out new public health guidelines for people over 65, or those 16 and older with chronic medical conditions that make them at risk for contracting the virus."We are strongly recommending that you do not attend any social activities, or any mass gatherings at all, until you get vaccinated," Dobbs said.Tap here to sign up for a vaccination appointment. In addition to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the state is also offering the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is also known as the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
JACKSON, Miss. —

Gov. Tate Reeves is lifting mask mandates and allowing businesses to operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules.

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The governor’s latest executive order replaces the one that expires at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

"Today, I signed what I expect will be one of my last executive orders regarding COVID-19. Our hospitalizations have plummeted, and our case numbers have fallen dramatically as well. In fact, our case numbers have fallen to the point where no county meets the original criteria for a mask mandate," Reeves said during a briefing Tuesday.

Reeves said Mississippians are encouraged, but not ordered to continue to wear a face covering and practice social distancing.

"Everyone should continue to listen to (State Health Officer Dr. Thomas) Dobbs and other health advisors for the best possible wisdom regarding how you can personally stem any risk of catching COVID. Their insight is valuable. The only rules that will remain in this order are a capacity limit of 50% on indoor arenas, and those that govern K-12 schools," Reeves said.

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The new order, which will remain in effect until March 31, requires K-12 schools to require masks when social distancing is not possible.

“We’re not out of the woods. People still need to be careful,” Dobbs said. We are fortunate to have new tools. We have vaccines available that are highly effective, not only at preventing illness and severe illness, but a growing body of evidence that it does also prevent transmission, further reinforcing how important it is for folks to get vaccinated.”

Dobbs said the Mississippi State Department of Health is putting out new public health guidelines for people over 65, or those 16 and older with chronic medical conditions that make them at risk for contracting the virus.

"We are strongly recommending that you do not attend any social activities, or any mass gatherings at all, until you get vaccinated," Dobbs said.

Tap here to sign up for a vaccination appointment. In addition to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the state is also offering the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is also known as the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.