Mississippi governor will require masks in businesses, public places for two weeks

Mississippi’s governor announced Tuesday that he will require masks to be worn in businesses and elsewhere in public for the next two weeks as the state attempts to reduce its rate of new coronavirus infections.

Gov. Tate Reeves (R) said at a press conference that the order was necessary to reduce the spread of the virus in the state, which has fallen from its peak in late July but remains much higher than earlier this year.

“Wearing a mask — as irritating as it can be, and I promise you I hate it more than anyone watching today — is critical,” Reeves said, according to the Kentucky Herald-Leader.

Reeves also announced that in eight counties across the state hit hardest by the pandemic, the beginning of the school year would be delayed for students in grades seven through 12.

“We must pump the brakes in the hardest-hit areas,” he said.

Reeves maintained that he plans to allow most school districts in the state to continue exercising control over their own start dates, according to the Herald-Leader

Mississippi has now reported more than 62,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,753 deaths from the virus, according to the state health department. The state has seen more than 1,000 new cases per day several times in the last week.