Mississippi Hospitals Filling Up with COVID Cases

July 20, 2021

Mississippi health officials expressed their frustration Tuesday with the growing number of COVID-19 infections, which they say are due to the more contagious Delta variant and the state’s low vaccination rate.

"There are 13 hospitals in the state of Mississippi that have zero ICU (intensive care unit) beds," State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said in a virtual news conference.  He added that, "the vast majority of our cases, our hospitalizations, and our deaths are in the unvaccinated."

Homebound residents who need assistance getting the vaccine can send an e-mail to COVIDHomebound@msdh.ms.gov or call the state’s COVID-19 Hotline at (877) 978-6453.

To view more of Shirley L. Smith's work, go to https://shirleysmithblog.wordpress.com.

** Please note that the audio for this story is a bit choppy because there was some interference during the Zoom news conference.