The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Mississippi jumped by 56% from Monday to Tuesday, from 1,574 cases to the state’s fourth-highest daily total of the pandemic — 2,821 new cases.

Tuesday’s spike is the highest one-day total of new cases since Jan. 9’s 3,203 positive test results. The other two higher days were Jan. 7, with 3,255 cases, and Dec. 30, 2020, with 3,023 cases.

Seven new deaths were also reported as of 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Each day’s new cases and deaths are as of 3 p.m. the previous day.

Nineteen new cases were recorded in Lincoln County.

King’s Daughters Medical Center had 17 COVID-positive patients in the hospital as of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. All 17 were unvaccinated. Six were in intensive care unit beds, four on ventilators. Thirty COVID-related patients were seen in the ER over the previous 24 hours.

There has been a 150% increase in the number of patients admitted to KDMC compared to pre-pandemic levels.

KDMC CEO Alvin Hoover said just a few weeks ago, only two or three infusions of monoclonal antibodies were administered for the week. These infusions may reduce the risk of serious illness and hospitalization for people with COVID-19 who are at a high risk of developing more serious illness.

KDMC had administered 16 infusions in the previous 24 hours and 203 across the previous month.

Vaccinations are not a 100% guarantee that a person will not become infected, but they do greatly reduce the risk, Hoover said.

Vaccinations are currently available in Brookhaven at Walgreen’s, Walmart Pharmacy, KDMC and some smaller clinics. They are provided free of charge to the patient.