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Documenting Mississippi's path to recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

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Mississippi coronavirus coverage
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Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This article contains a general timeline of noteworthy state government responses to the coronavirus pandemic since April 2020. It also includes details on three specific types of state responses to the pandemic:

Additionally, the article includes:


Response news updates

The following section provides a timeline of Mississippi's reopening activity beginning in April 2020. The entries, which come from our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter, are sorted by month in reverse chronological order. The date shown is the day that we wrote about them in the newsletter. They appear exactly as they appeared in the newsletter.

June 2021

  • June 14: The state ended its participation in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs June 12. Gov. Tate Reeves (R) made the announcement May 10.

May 2021

  • May 11: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced the state will stop participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs starting June 12. Mississippi is one of seven states that have announced federal benefits will end by June 30 or earlier.
  • May 3: On April 30, Gov. Tate Reeves (R) liftedall remaining coronavirus restrictions (including all capacity restrictions on sports and entertainment venues) except for the mask requirement inside schools.

April 2021

  • April 1: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) issued an executive order easing restrictions for certain events. Large events at indoor arenas can expand to 75% capacity, and K-12 extracurricular events can expand to 50% capacity indoors, with no limit on outdoor events.

March 2021

  • March 16: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced the state is eliminating vaccine eligibility restrictions for anyone over the age of 16 starting March 16. Mississippi is the second state (after Alaska on March 9) to open vaccinations up for anyone over the age of 16 statewide.
  • March 3: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) is lifting the state’s regional mask requirement and all restrictions on businesses starting March 3. The state still requires masks in K-12 school buildings, while large indoor venues like arenas with ticketed seating will be limited to 50% seating capacity. The order also lifts gathering restrictions for individuals. Previously, 10 people could gather indoors and 50 could gather outdoors.
  • March 1: School staff and first responders are eligible for vaccination starting March 1. Previously, individuals 65 and older were eligible.

February 2021

  • February 4: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) extended the state’s regional mask order and Safe Return order (including the 10-person indoor and 50-person outdoor gathering limits) until March 3 at 5 p.m.

January 2021

  • January 19: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) extended the state’s regional mask order and Safe Return order (including the 10-person indoor and 50-person outdoor gathering limits) until Feb. 3.

December 2020

  • December 23: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) added 16 counties to the state’s mask order, bringing the number of counties under the order to 78 out of 82. The order is set to expire Jan. 15, 2021.
  • December 15: State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs announced hospitals have to postpone elective surgeries that require overnight hospitalization starting Dec. 15 through at least Dec. 23.
  • December 10: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) amended the state’s Safe Recovery Order to limit indoor gatherings to 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 50 when social distancing cannot be practiced. He also added 12 counties and removed four from the state’s mask requirement, bringing the total number of counties under the face-covering order to 62.
  • December 2: Gov. Tate Reeves added 13 counties to the state’s mask mandate, bringing the total number of counties with face-covering requirements to 54.

November 2020

  • November 30: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) added 19 counties to the state’s targeted mask mandate order, bringing the total number of counties with face-covering requirements to 41. The order is effective through Dec. 11.
  • November 18: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) added seven counties to the state’s targeted mask mandate order, bringing the total number of counties with face-covering requirements to 22. The order is effective through Dec. 11.

October 2020

  • October 27: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) extended the state’s additional mitigation measures to seven more counties, bringing the total number of counties under the order to 16, effective Oct. 28. The order limits gatherings to 10 people indoors and 50 people outdoors. It also requires masks in all indoor public places where social distancing cannot be maintained.
  • October 21: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) issued an executive order implementing targeted mitigation measures in nine counties with high rates of coronavirus infection, effective Oct. 21. The order limits gatherings in those counties to 10 people indoors and 50 people outdoors. It also requires masks in all indoor public places where social distancing cannot be maintained. Hospitals statewide are also required to maintain at least 10% of their total capacity for coronavirus patients. Facilities that cannot maintain this capacity will have to pause elective procedures.

September 2020

  • September 30: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) issued an executive order relaxing the state’s coronavirus requirements. Under the order, gatherings of up to 20 people indoors and 100 outdoors will be permitted when social distancing is not possible. Reeves also announced the public mask requirement will expire. Individuals still have to wear masks at schools and at businesses the state defines as close-contact (like barbershops and salons).
  • September 17: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) extended the state’s Safe Return order through Sept. 30. Reeves amended the order to allow 75% capacity at businesses like gyms, restaurants, and retail shops. The amended order also allows social gatherings of up to 10 people indoors and 50 outdoors when distancing is not possible or 20 indoors and 50 outdoors with social distancing.
  • September 1: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) extended the state’s executive order requiring individuals to wear masks in indoor public spaces and bars to close at 11 p.m. every night. The order expands school sporting and extracurricular events (like school performances) to 25% capacity. Previously, only two attendees per participating student were permitted.

August 2020

  • August 5: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) issued a statewide mask order. Everyone five years of age or older must wear face coverings in indoor public spaces and outdoors when social distancing cannot be practiced. He also mandated that all students and teachers wear masks on school property. Reeves delayed school reopenings in eight counties to Aug. 17. Previously, the counties were allowed to set their own start dates for the academic year.

July 2020

  • July 28: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) amended the statewide Safe Return order. The new order limits gatherings to 10 people indoors or 20 outdoors, requires bars and restaurants to stop serving alcohol between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., and only allows bars to serve alcohol to seated customers. Reeves also added six counties to the county-specific mask order.
  • July 20: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) extended the state’s Safe Return and mask requirement executive orders. Reeves added 10 additional counties to the original 13 with the mask requirement.
  • July 10: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) issued an executive order increasing coronavirus restrictions in 13 counties. The order requires individuals to wear face masks in public and limits gatherings to 10 people indoors and 20 outdoors.
  • July 7: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced he was extending the state’s Safe Return order until July 20.

June 2020

  • June 10: The Mississippi Department of Education released optional guidance for schools reopening in the fall. It contained recommendations for school districts to choose and implement one of three learning schedules: traditional, hybrid, or online.
  • June 8: DMV's in the state are reopening on June 8.
  • June 1: Gov. Tate Reeves’ (R) Safe Return order took effect on June 1. The order allows all travel to resume. It also permits indoor gatherings of up to 20 people and outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people. If social distancing is possible, indoor gatherings of up to 50 and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 are allowed. Ballparks, theaters, libraries, and museums can also begin opening.

May 2020

  • May 28: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced that his Safer At Home order will be replaced by a Safe Return order effective June 1. The order will allow all travel to resume. The order will allow for indoor gatherings of up to 20 people and outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people. If social distancing is possible, indoor gatherings of up to 50 and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 will be permitted. Reeves also issued an executive order allowing ballparks, theaters, libraries, and museums to begin opening June 1.
  • May 26: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) extended the state’s safer-at-home order through June 1. It was scheduled to expire on May 25. He also lifted some restrictions on outdoor recreation activities and businesses, including water parks, playgrounds, and sports practices.
  • May 20: Gov. Tate Reeves on Tuesday issued recommendations for in-person religious services to reopen in the state. Religious services were classified as essential and were not mandated to shut down. On May 21, casinos that comply with Mississippi Gaming Commission and CDC guidelines can begin reopening.
  • May 18: Tattoo parlors were able to reopen effective May 15 with restrictions similar to those of barbershops in the state.
  • May 15: Mississippi Gaming Commission Executive Director Allen Godfrey confirmed that casinos in the state would be able to reopen on May 21.
  • May 11: Barber shops, salons, and gyms were allowed to reopen starting Monday, May 11, subject to social distancing and other guidelines. Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced the reopenings on May 8.

April 2020

  • April 27: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) issued an executive order loosening some of the restrictions in his original April 3 stay-at-home order. The new "Safer at Home" plan allows some businesses to reopen, with restrictions, such as limiting the number of customers allowed inside and making hand sanitizer widely available. Gatherings of 10 or more individuals are still prohibited. Mississippi is a Republican trifecta.


Vaccine distribution

This section contains a table of quick facts on the state’s vaccine distribution plan and a timeline of noteworthy events, including updates on vaccine availability for new groups of individuals, changes to state distribution plans, and much more. If you know of a noteworthy story we are missing, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

The Mississippi State Department of Health released a distribution plan on October 16, 2020.

Quick facts

Mississippi state vaccination plan quick information
What governing entities are responsible for vaccine allocation and distribution?[1] (1) Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response (2) Office of Immunization
Where can I find a quick breakdown of phases in my state? Mississippi Vaccination Phases
Where can I find the distribution plan? Mississippi COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
When was the plan first released to the public? October 16, 2020
When was the plan most recently updated? October 16, 2020
Where can I find answers to frequently asked questions? COVID Vaccine Questions and Answers
Where can I find data related to the coronavirus vaccine in my state? Mississippi State Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting
Where is the state health department's homepage? Mississippi State Department of Health
Where can I find additional information about the state's vaccine distribution? The COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan in Mississippi - AARP

Timeline

  • March 16, 2021: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) eliminated vaccine eligibility restrictions for anyone over the age of 16. Mississippi was the second state (after Alaska on March 9) to open vaccinations up for anyone over the age of 16 statewide.[2]
  • March 4, 2021: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced people age 50 and older were eligible for vaccination.[3]
  • March 1, 2021: Mississippi school staff and first responders became eligible for vaccination. Previously, individuals 65 and older were eligible.[4]
  • January 6, 2021: Mississippi State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs announced individuals age 75 and over were eligible to begin receiving the coronavirus vaccine.[5]

Statewide travel restrictions

See also: Travel restrictions issued by states in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021


As of September 7, 2021, Mississippi had not issued any travel restrictions.

More information can be found at Visit Mississippi.


School reopenings and closures

See also: School responses in Mississippi to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Schools in Mississippi were closed to in-person instruction on March 16, 2020, and remained closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year. All counties in the state were allowed to start reopening schools by August 17, 2020. The timeline below lists statewide responses we tracked.

  • June 29, 2021: At the end of the school year, Burbio reported most schools were in-person in Mississippi .[6][7]
  • Sept. 10, 2020: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio reported a majority of schools were in-person in Mississippi .[8][9]
  • August 4, 2020: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) mandated that all students and teachers wear masks on school property. He delayed school reopenings in eight counties to Aug. 17. Previously, the counties were allowed to set their own start dates for the academic year.[10]
  • June 10, 2020: The Mississippi Department of Education released optional guidance for schools reopening in the fall. It contained recommendations for school districts to choose and implement one of three learning schedules: traditional, hybrid, or online.[11]


  • April 14, 2020: Gov. Tate Reeves (R) closed schools for the remainder of the academic year. Prior to the announcement, schools were closed through April 17.[12]
  • March 19, 2020: Reeves announced that the statewide school closure, originally scheduled to end on March 20, would extend until April 7.[13]
  • March 14, 2020: Reeves called on schools to extend spring break through the week of March 16.[14]

Statewide mask requirements

See also: State-level mask requirements in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020


On July 9, Gov. Tate Reeves (R) issued an executive order requiring individuals in certain counties to wear face masks in public. The order applied to counties with 200 new cases in the past 14 days or with an average of 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the same period.

On August 5, a statewide executive order became effective requiring individuals to wear masks in indoor public spaces and outdoors when social distancing was not possible.

On September 30, Reeves allowed the public mask order to expire but said individuals still had to wear masks in schools and at businesses the state defined as close-contact (like barbershops and salons).[15]

On October 21, Reeves issued an executive order implementing targeted mitigation measures in counties with high rates of coronavirus infection.[16]

On March 3, 2021, Reeves lifted the regional mask order. Below is the original mask order.


Noteworthy lawsuits

See also: Lawsuits about state actions and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

Ballotpedia has not covered any noteworthy lawsuits in this state. Click the link above to see noteworthy lawsuits filed in response to the coronavirus pandemic in other states.

Officials and candidates diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus

See also: Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

The table below lists officials or candidates who have been diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus. The most recent announcements appear first.

Name Office Date Status
John Faulkner Mississippi House of Representatives District 5 July 9, 2020 Faulkner announced that he tested positive for coronavirus.[17]
Earle Banks Mississippi House of Representatives District 67 July 8, 2020 Banks announced he tested positive for COVID-19.[18]
Ronnie Crudup Jr. Mississippi House of Representatives District 71 July 8, 2020 On July 8, 2020, Crudup write in a Facebook post that he tested positive for COVID-19.[19]
Greg Haney Mississippi House of Representatives District 118 July 7, 2020 Haney announced that he tested positive for COVID-19.[20]
Philip Gunn Mississippi House of Representatives District 56 July 5, 2020 Gunn announced he tested positive for COVID-19.[21]
Trey Lamar Mississippi House of Representatives District 8 July 5, 2020 Lamar confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19.[22]
William Brown (Mississippi) Mississippi House of Representatives District 70 July 2, 2020 Brown announced he tested positive for COVID-19.[23]
Manly Barton Mississippi House of Representatives District 109 July 16, 2020 Rep. John Read (R) announced on Facebook that Barton was hospitalized with COVID-19.[24]
Delbert Hosemann Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi January 5, 2022

July 7, 2020

Hosemann announced on January 5, 2022, that he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was vaccinated at the time he contracted the virus.[25]

Hosemann tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement released by his spokesperson.[26]

Delbert Hosemann Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi January 5, 2022

July 7, 2020

Hosemann announced on January 5, 2022, that he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was vaccinated at the time he contracted the virus.[27]

Hosemann tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement released by his spokesperson.[28]

Chokwe Antar Lumumba Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi December 21, 2021 Lumumba announced on December 21, 2021, that he tested positive for COVID-19. He said he was vaccinated at the time he contracted the virus.[29]
Roger Wicker U.S. Senate Mississippi August 19, 2021 Philip Waller, Wicker's communications director, issued a statement saying Wicker tested positive for COVID-19. He said Wicker was fully vaccinated.[30]

Paths to recovery by state

To read about other states’ responses and recoveries, click one of the links below:

Other state government responses

To view previous coverage areas, including changes to 2020 election dates and policies, initial stay-at-home orders, coronavirus-related legislation, and much more, click a state in the map below.

https://ballotpedia.org/Government_responses_to_and_political_effects_of_the_coronavirus_pandemic,_2020_(STATE)

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named section7
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MS316
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MS34
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MS31
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named MS16
  6. ↑ Burbio rated Mississippi's in-person index at 81.2. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  7. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  8. ↑ Burbio rated Mississippi's in-person index between 60-80. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  9. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  10. ↑ Governor of Mississippi, "Executive Order No. 1517," accessed August 5, 2020
  11. ↑ Clarion Ledger, "MDE gives 3 options for reopening schools in Mississippi as state grapples with coronavirus," June 10, 2020
  12. ↑ WLOX, "Gov. Reeves closes Mississippi schools for the remainder of the semester," April 14, 2020
  13. ↑ Clarion Ledger, "Mississippi coronavirus: Public schools closed until April 17," March 19, 2020
  14. ↑ The Sun Herald, " Mississippi governor declares state of emergency over new coronavirus after Spain visit," March 14, 2020
  15. ↑ The Vicksburg Post, "Reeves eases statewide COVID-19 restrictions, allows state's mask mandate to expire," accessed September 30, 2020
  16. ↑ WJTV, "Mississippi governor announces mask mandate for nine counties," accessed October 26, 2020
  17. ↑ The Baltimore Sun, "26 lawmakers have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mississippi state legislature outbreak," July 9, 2020
  18. ↑ 'WAPT, "36 at State Capitol test positive for COVID-19," July 8, 2020
  19. ↑ The Hill, "26 Mississippi legislators test positive for COVID-19 after outbreak tied to state Capitol," July 9, 2020
  20. ↑ Time, "At Least 8 Mississippi Lawmakers Test Positive for COVID-19," July 7, 2020
  21. ↑ Clarion Ledger, "MSDH: 8 Mississippi lawmakers positive for COVID-19, 11 others suspected," July 7, 2020
  22. ↑ Mississippi Today, "House Speaker, lawmakers test positive for the coronavirus," July 5, 2020
  23. ↑ Clarion Ledger, "MSDH: 8 Mississippi lawmakers positive for COVID-19, 11 others suspected," July 7, 2020
  24. ↑ Ya'll Politics, "Rep. Manly Barton hospitalized with COVID-19," July 16, 2020
  25. ↑ Bradenton Herald, "Mississippi lieutenant governor tests positive for COVID-19," January 6, 2022
  26. ↑ Clarion Ledger, "MSDH: 8 Mississippi lawmakers positive for COVID-19, 11 others suspected," July 7, 2020
  27. ↑ Bradenton Herald, "Mississippi lieutenant governor tests positive for COVID-19," January 6, 2022
  28. ↑ Clarion Ledger, "MSDH: 8 Mississippi lawmakers positive for COVID-19, 11 others suspected," July 7, 2020
  29. ↑ Clarion Ledger, "Jackson city officials: Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba tests positive for COVID-19," December 21, 2021
  30. ↑ United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker, "Wicker Office Statement on COVID-19 Diagnosis," August 19, 2021
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