Gov. Tate Reeves: Mississippi is near peak of resources for COVID-19

The state of Mississippi is near the peak of its resource use according to Governor Tate Reeves.

The governor stressed that dangerous, deadly weeks are ahead concerning the coronavirus.

As we near the peak that the governor said health care leaders expect to be around the 18th of this month, he shares what plans are taking place to add more hospital beds.

Right now 3,000 beds are available in the state. The governor said they plan to increase it to 400 more beds and 250 ICU beds.

Plans are also underway for two stand up healthcare sites for people who are recovering from the virus but not fully ready to be back at home.

One of those sites will be at Camp Shelby, south of Hattiesburg, and a site is being looked at in north Mississippi.

The governor also stated that unemployment claims have reached a new high at 3,000%. Unfortunately, the governor expected those numbers to rise before it gets better.

“We’ve increased the hours, we’ve increased the staff, we’ve increased the ways you can apply. We’re still trying to catch up to the massive numbers. That doesn’t help if you’re trying to get through and can’t. I know that. But we are working to make it right. You will get what you’re entitled to, no matter when you get through. Your money is based on when you lost your job, not when some answers the phone,” stated Reeves.

WCBI spoke with an MDES spokeswoman who said phone lines are backed up and that for those who apply online, your information is going through and being manually put in.