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Mississippi Governor Clarifies Order Defining Most Businesses as Essential Mississippi Governor Clarifies Order Defining Most Businesses as Essential
(2 months later)
Days after issuing an executive order that broadly defined most businesses as essential during the coronavirus shutdown, Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi said on Thursday that it was not meant to interfere with decisions made by local governments.Days after issuing an executive order that broadly defined most businesses as essential during the coronavirus shutdown, Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi said on Thursday that it was not meant to interfere with decisions made by local governments.
Governor Reeves signed the order on Tuesday, saying that essential businesses should be allowed to stay open, with some limitations, during the coronavirus shutdown. It offered a broad list of such businesses, including some that were exempt from limits on gatherings of more than 10 people as long as they took into account “reasonable measures,” such as social distancing and sending sick employees home.Governor Reeves signed the order on Tuesday, saying that essential businesses should be allowed to stay open, with some limitations, during the coronavirus shutdown. It offered a broad list of such businesses, including some that were exempt from limits on gatherings of more than 10 people as long as they took into account “reasonable measures,” such as social distancing and sending sick employees home.
After widespread criticism, Governor Reeves said on Thursday that he would issue a supplemental notice saying that the order was intended as “a floor statewide” for local governments to follow.After widespread criticism, Governor Reeves said on Thursday that he would issue a supplemental notice saying that the order was intended as “a floor statewide” for local governments to follow.
Some cities and counties in the state had already imposed their own more narrow restrictions regarding which businesses were considered essential, leading to confusion about how the state order would be executed.Some cities and counties in the state had already imposed their own more narrow restrictions regarding which businesses were considered essential, leading to confusion about how the state order would be executed.
On Thursday, Renae Eze, a spokeswoman for the governor, said the executive order was considered a “state managed, locally executed” directive that “sets a statewide standard in terms of social distancing and defining essential businesses to slow the spread and protect public health.”On Thursday, Renae Eze, a spokeswoman for the governor, said the executive order was considered a “state managed, locally executed” directive that “sets a statewide standard in terms of social distancing and defining essential businesses to slow the spread and protect public health.”
“This establishes statewide parameters that local leaders on the front lines can build on to make decisions that are in the best interest of their communities,” Ms. Eze said in a statement. She said the supplement to the order would “clarify that no local precautionary measures are overruled by this executive order and ensure that essential businesses remain open.”“This establishes statewide parameters that local leaders on the front lines can build on to make decisions that are in the best interest of their communities,” Ms. Eze said in a statement. She said the supplement to the order would “clarify that no local precautionary measures are overruled by this executive order and ensure that essential businesses remain open.”
At a news conference on Thursday afternoon, Governor Reeves sought to clarify the intent of the original order.At a news conference on Thursday afternoon, Governor Reeves sought to clarify the intent of the original order.
“If any municipality wants to utilize their local emergency power — and a lot of them do, and that’s perfectly fine — if they want to utilize their emergency power to go beyond what the state does, as long as their ordinance does not directly conflict with allowing for what the state order says, then they’re perfectly fine to do so.”“If any municipality wants to utilize their local emergency power — and a lot of them do, and that’s perfectly fine — if they want to utilize their emergency power to go beyond what the state does, as long as their ordinance does not directly conflict with allowing for what the state order says, then they’re perfectly fine to do so.”
But Governor Reeves also said that the order was written to ensure that no county or municipal order “can keep those essential services from going on.”But Governor Reeves also said that the order was written to ensure that no county or municipal order “can keep those essential services from going on.”
The executive order defines essential businesses as those involved in public safety, including emergency medical workers and health care operations and facilities. It also includes laundromats and home and auto repair. Restaurants and bars were also considered essential and could provide dine-in services, but they were not allowed to have more than 10 customers at a time in seating areas or other indoor spaces.The executive order defines essential businesses as those involved in public safety, including emergency medical workers and health care operations and facilities. It also includes laundromats and home and auto repair. Restaurants and bars were also considered essential and could provide dine-in services, but they were not allowed to have more than 10 customers at a time in seating areas or other indoor spaces.
The list included nearly every type of business, including financial and religious institutions, and real estate services. On Twitter, the governor said he rejected “dictatorship models like China” in his approach to the order, which in some cases appeared, in effect, to overturn local orders put into place by local governments.The list included nearly every type of business, including financial and religious institutions, and real estate services. On Twitter, the governor said he rejected “dictatorship models like China” in his approach to the order, which in some cases appeared, in effect, to overturn local orders put into place by local governments.
In Oxford, Miss., Mayor Robyn Tannehill said that the city government was confused about how to carry out the order and merge it with its own resolution on March 22 about how businesses should operate.In Oxford, Miss., Mayor Robyn Tannehill said that the city government was confused about how to carry out the order and merge it with its own resolution on March 22 about how businesses should operate.
Oxford, about an hour south of Memphis, has a population of about 25,000, with a large retirement community. But the local population is infused with an additional 20,000 students attending the University of Mississippi.Oxford, about an hour south of Memphis, has a population of about 25,000, with a large retirement community. But the local population is infused with an additional 20,000 students attending the University of Mississippi.
“Our first reading of the executive order caused us great concern and confusion, as it appeared it was superseding all of the plans and policies that we had put in place for our community,” she said on Thursday.“Our first reading of the executive order caused us great concern and confusion, as it appeared it was superseding all of the plans and policies that we had put in place for our community,” she said on Thursday.
Updated June 5, 2020
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
One example, she said, was that the executive order appeared to allow restaurants to open their dining rooms to 10 people or fewer. “It seemed to open the door for a lot of businesses we had asked to be curbside only, or to close,” she said.One example, she said, was that the executive order appeared to allow restaurants to open their dining rooms to 10 people or fewer. “It seemed to open the door for a lot of businesses we had asked to be curbside only, or to close,” she said.
The order also lacked clear penalties for violators, whereas in Oxford, violators could face a $1,000 fine, she said.The order also lacked clear penalties for violators, whereas in Oxford, violators could face a $1,000 fine, she said.
Ms. Tannehill said she spoke with Governor Reeves on Wednesday. “He said his intention was not to open the doors wider, but to get a minimum standard,” she said. “And I think he understood that different communities are going to have to approach this differently.”Ms. Tannehill said she spoke with Governor Reeves on Wednesday. “He said his intention was not to open the doors wider, but to get a minimum standard,” she said. “And I think he understood that different communities are going to have to approach this differently.”
Mississippi has reported 485 Covid-19 cases, of which five were fatal, the State’s Department of Health said. The order was signed as neighboring Louisiana was experiencing the fastest growth in new coronavirus cases in the world, with nearly 1,800 reported as of Thursday. Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana said on Tuesday that the current trajectory of case growth in Louisiana was similar to those in Spain and Italy.Mississippi has reported 485 Covid-19 cases, of which five were fatal, the State’s Department of Health said. The order was signed as neighboring Louisiana was experiencing the fastest growth in new coronavirus cases in the world, with nearly 1,800 reported as of Thursday. Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana said on Tuesday that the current trajectory of case growth in Louisiana was similar to those in Spain and Italy.
Governor Reeves’s order said that, through April 17, Mississippi residents should avoid “social and other nonessential gatherings” of more than 10 people in “close proximity.” “This does not apply to normal operations of locations like airports, medical and health care facilities, retail shopping including grocery and department stores, offices, factories and other manufacturing facilities or any essential business or operation,” it said.Governor Reeves’s order said that, through April 17, Mississippi residents should avoid “social and other nonessential gatherings” of more than 10 people in “close proximity.” “This does not apply to normal operations of locations like airports, medical and health care facilities, retail shopping including grocery and department stores, offices, factories and other manufacturing facilities or any essential business or operation,” it said.
In a news conference on Tuesday, Governor Reeves said that he had been in contact with Vice President Mike Pence and that he planned to follow the lead of “experts” in his executive orders, The Jackson Free Press reported.In a news conference on Tuesday, Governor Reeves said that he had been in contact with Vice President Mike Pence and that he planned to follow the lead of “experts” in his executive orders, The Jackson Free Press reported.
President Trump said on Tuesday that he wanted to reopen the country for business by Easter, on April 12, despite warnings from public health experts that the worst effects of the coronavirus were weeks away and that lifting the restrictions now in place would result in unnecessary deaths.President Trump said on Tuesday that he wanted to reopen the country for business by Easter, on April 12, despite warnings from public health experts that the worst effects of the coronavirus were weeks away and that lifting the restrictions now in place would result in unnecessary deaths.