Gov. Tate Reeves announced Monday that he extended an executive order requiring the wearing of masks in public areas in an effort to reduce the COVID-19 pandemic. Reeves reported Monday that there were 145 new COVID-19 cases and nine deaths. The executive order was due to expire Monday morning. Reeves stated that the number of deaths had dropped to below 3,000 for the first week in a row. In late July, it reached a peak of more than 9,000. Reeves stated that the White House has declared that we are not in the red zone anymore. “I want everyone to know that now is not the right time to relax …. We want people to keep wearing their masks. Reeves lifted restrictions on restaurants, and other retail outlets. The capacity of restaurants has increased from 50% to 75%, compared with the normal maximum capacity. According to the AARP Mississippi is one of the 34 states with mask mandates. Mississippi is one of the 34 states with mask mandates. Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama are all within Mississippi’s borders. Reeves issued the mask mandate in August. It was the last of 34 states to impose a state-wide mandate.