MSDH Public Health Update: COVID-19, Flu and more

Mississippi Public Health Update January 6, 2023 COVID-19 Update High Community COVID-19 Levels are returning to parts of Mississippi. After weeks of low COVID-19 activity, Mississippi is seeing an increasing trend in cases. Community COVID-19 levels are elevated in much of the state, and some counties are reporting high activity, with protective measures recommended, especially for older adults. Between December 27 and January 2, 5,778 new cases of COVID-19 in the state were reported to MSDH. Find the recommended protective steps in your area by checking your county's Community COVID-19 Level: Check the COVID-19 Community Level in your county (CDC) Get Tested at Home or at Locations Statewide 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 Drop by a county health department near you to pick up free test kits Get Boosted Being fully vaccinated with boosters is the best protection against severe COVID-19 illness. Get the latest booster if it's been more than 2 months since your last booster or vaccination dose. 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 charge to you. Make an appointment Complete COVID-19 information 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 Homebound? Order free kits by mail at www.covid.gov 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 Mississippi Flu Activity Surveillance finds fewer Mississippians reporting flu-like symptoms, but levels of influenza-like activity still remain high. Peak flu season continues across the U.S. and in Mississippi. Based on patients at selected clinics and hospitals who report flu-like symptoms, children and young adults are most frequently affected this flu season. Flu Protection A seasonal flu shot is your best defense against getting flu, spreading it to others, and developing severe illness. Older adults and pregnant women are at greatest risk from severe flu, and should get a flu shot as soon as possible. Flu shots for children are available at all county health departments. Find a county health department near you Flu information and Mississippi flu surveillance Mpox Update Mpox (monkeypox) cases reported in Mississippi have held steady at 108, with no new cases identified since November 28. Free vaccinations against mpox 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 medical providers around the state. Schedule a free vaccination from MSDH Mpox vaccination providers and contact information (PDF) Staying Safe Mpox 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 mpox sores. To avoid getting mpox or spreading it, be aware of its signs and symptoms. More about mpox, vaccinations and prevention Mpox Weekly Report A detailed breakdown of mpox cases by week, age and sex is published weekly on our website. Latest mpox report Norovirus in Raw Oysters About 300 people nationwide have fallen ill since December with norovirus infection contracted by eating raw oysters harvested from Galveston, Texas. Norovirus can cause severe illness, and is especially a risk to young children, the elderly, and those in poor health or with weakened immune systems. Restaurants and stores have been warned to discard oysters from Galveston harvested between November 17 and December 7, 2022. Do not eat oysters that may have come from this area that were harvested between these dates. Latest CDC information on this outbreak 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

---

STAY CONNECTED:

Manage Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help

---

This email was sent to ooseims.archieves@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Mississippi State Department of Health · 570 East Woodrow Wilson Drive · Jackson, MS 39216