/Reeves extends mask mandate despite going maskless at last week’s RNC events

Reeves extends mask mandate despite going maskless at last week’s RNC events

Reeves was not seen socially distancing or wearing a mask to events in North Carolina last week, where the Republican National Convention took place, as well as at the White House where Donald Trump accepted his nomination for president. Reeves stated that “many of us during this pandemic not always wore a mask 100% of time.” He added that “the vast majority” of those events were where he was wearing masks. “… It wasn’t always possible. Reeves gave his first update on the COVID-19 pandemic in Mississippi since Aug. 25. He extended the statewide mandate for masks that he had first issued in August. Reeves also extended all executive orders, except those limiting high school sports crowds and other extracurricular activities. He changed the order to limit high school event crowds to 25% of the venue, provided that the event can be accommodated social distancing. He canceled an old executive order which limited high school events to two spectators each participant. Other executive orders such as the one that limited crowd size to 20 people for outdoor events or 10 for indoor events were extended for a further two weeks. Reeves admitted that some people are trying to score political points by pointing at when politicians don’t wear masks during Monday’s hour-long news conference. Reeves was later asked about the political statement made by the president when the majority of 1,500 people who attended his acceptance speech did not wear masks. Although the event took place outdoors, people sat shoulder-to-shoulder. Reeves stated that 366 people, including himself, attended the speech of the president at the White House. Reeves stated that he and others attending the event believe the election is important, and they wanted to “support him (Trump). We wanted to show our support, and that was a decision that we made.” People who have attended speeches by Trump regularly avoid wearing masks. Reeves, however, insisted that the Mississippi mask mandate was working and encouraged people to wear one in public. Reeves stated that the number of Mississippi cases has dropped from over 9,000 three weeks ago, to just under 5,000 in the past week on a seven day average. Reeves said that the number of hospitalizations has decreased as well as the number of people being admitted to intensive care units. Reeves stated that Mississippi’s efforts are working. “Our numbers are falling.” Reeves expressed concern about people being too relaxed during the Labor Day weekend. Reeves, Thomas Dobbs, the state’s Health Officer, have both cited the large spike in state cases that occurred during Memorial Day and the July 4 holiday as contributing factors to this summer’s high number of cases. Many hospitals and intensive care units were left at capacity by this spike. Reeves said Monday that these numbers are decreasing. Reeves also hasn’t worn masks while urging Mississippians to do the same. Reeves admitted that he should have worn a mask in many instances.