MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves is working with health officials while COVID-19 cases across the state rise above 1,000.
The Health Department said Tuesday that as of Monday evening, Mississippi had 1,915 positive tests for the virus and 59 deaths.
The Mississippi State Department of Health has not released statistics showing the race of people who have tested positive or died from the new coronavirus. But, the department’s senior deputy says he thinks African Americans have been disproportionately affected in the state, as they have been in some other places.
The state has about 3 million residents. Areas with the largest populations are seeing the most cases.
Two smaller, majority-black counties, Bolivar and Wilkinson, have disproportionately large caseloads