MSDH Public Health Update: COVID-19 activity, Monkeypox vaccinations and more

Mississippi Public Health Update September 27, 2022 COVID-19 Update Community COVID-19 Levels are low in almost all counties. As of September 21, only four Mississippi counties showed "medium" Community Levels of COVID-19 (yellow counties on the map). Masks and other safety precautions may be recommended in these areas for high-risk individuals. Check for precautions in your county Hospitalizations for COVID-19 remain a concern, but are declining. As of September 19, 147 Mississippians were currently hospitalized for COVID-19 infection. Testing is Important Get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms. Testing can detect disease early and limit the spread to others. MSDH offers free COVID-19 testing around the state, and free home test kits from any county health department. Schedule a free COVID-19 test Get Boosted Being fully vaccinated with boosters is the best protection against severe COVID-19 illness. Booster doses are recommended for all individuals 5 years of age and older. MSDH now offers an updated, more protective bivalent COVID-19 booster for those 12 and older. The updated booster is recommended for individuals if it has been at least two months after your primary COVID-19 vaccination series or last booster shot. Anyone 6 months and older can be vaccinated, and boosters are available for ages 5 and up. COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are available at county health departments at no cost. Complete COVID-19 information Latest county COVID-19 details MSDH Hotline: 877-978-6453 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon) Hearing impaired? Dial 711 first. Free Home Test Kits Families can receive up to 8 free COVID-19 home tests (4 kits with two tests each) per month simply by picking them up at any county health department while supplies last. These rapid antigen tests are convenient, and can let you get treatment and protect others quickly should you become ill with COVID-19. Find a county health department near you Report your home test kit results If you or a family member has a new positive test result for COVID-19 found with a home test kit, please use our online form to help us track COVID-19 in Mississippi. Report a positive home test now Monkeypox Update Monkeypox cases reported in Mississippi have increased to 82 as of September 27. Cases have occurred in all areas of the state, especially northwest, central and southeast Mississippi. Latest monkeypox report Vaccinations Free vaccinations against monkeypox are available for those at high risk. If you are a high-risk individual, you can receive the two-dose vaccination series through MSDH, or from some other medical providers in the state Where to get monkeypox vaccinations Schedule free vaccinations with MSDH: Eligible individuals at high risk of monkeypox exposure can schedule their vaccination at selected county health departments online or by phone. Schedule your monkeypox vaccination online Schedule by phone: call 1-877-978-6453 Staying Safe Monkeypox is spread primarily through skin-to-skin contact, including sex. It can also be transmitted by touching clothing, bedding or other items that have come into contact with someone who has monkeypox sores. To avoid getting monkeypox or spreading it, be aware of its signs and symptoms. More about monkeypox, vaccinations and prevention   Inspections MSDH regularly inspects food facilities, child care facilities, and others for safety and regulatory compliance. The latest results and violation reports for these inspections can be found on our website.   Recent grade "C" restaurant inspections Recent child care facility violations Inspection reports for Mississippi nursing homes What We Do A sample of services and programs of the Mississippi State Department of Health Reproductive Health Our Comprehensive Reproductive Health program provides education and counseling on responsible sexual behavior and the timing of pregnancies to ensure the best health of mother and baby. Program services are available to men and women regardless of income, including education on contraceptive methods, pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease testing, birth control supplies, and pre-conception counseling to help plan pregnancies. More about Comprehensive Reproductive Health and services

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