Since Friday, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lincoln County has risen from 281 to 300. One more person has died from coronavirus-related causes, elevating total deaths in the county to 32, according to numbers published by the Mississippi State Department of Health.

Lincoln County had one active outbreak in a long term care facility as of Sunday, when the most current information was published. A total of 92 cases — both active and resolved — had been reported for LTC facilities, with 25 deaths. That’s one more reported case and two more reported deaths. Of those 92 cases, 13 were black residents, 77 were white and two were listed as unknown. Of the 25 deaths, two were black residents and 23 were white. 

LTC facilities include nursing homes, personal care homes, assisted living homes and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disability.

No residential care facility in the county had an outbreak. Residential care facilities include psychiatric or chemical dependency residential treatment centers and long-term acute care facilities.

Statewide, Mississippi has reported 17,768 cases as of Monday — 1,436 more cases than one week ago — and 837 deaths — 55 more than one week earlier. More than two-thirds of these cases were reported Saturday to Monday — 265 on Saturday, 236 Sunday and 498 Monday — 999 cases. Thirty-four deaths were also reported during that time.

The number of people hospitalized across the state for COVID-19 has decreased over the weekend, however, from 408 to 390.

King’s Daughters Medical Center had 206 patients who tested positive for coronavirus as of Friday afternoon. At that time, 1,492 tests had been submitted to the state.

At least 13,356 people in the state are presumed to have recovered from COVID-19.

MSDH offers suggestions on how to keep the virus from spreading further.

• Social distancing is still critical to stop the spread of COVID-19. Keep plenty of distance between yourself and others.

• Wearing a mask or face covering can sharply reduce the risk of passing COVID-19 on to others.

• Most people spreading COVID-19 do not know they are infected, so remind others that precautions remain essential, and set an example by your actions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated no vaccine is currently available to prevent coronavirus COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness, according to the CDC, is to avoid being exposed.

The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person, between people who are in close contact with one another, within about 6 feet.

It is believed to spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

Both MSDH and KDMC offer testing for the virus. Anyone who wishes to be tested at an MSDH center must complete a prescreening through the department’s smartphone apps or by calling 877-978-6453.

Anyone who wants to be tested by KDMC should call 601-835-9455 prior to visiting the hospital’s testing site, located behind the emergency room. The site is open 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Screening is for individuals age 12 and older.