Mandatory restrictions include mask wearing and stricter restrictions on group gatherings. It will last at least until December 11. Hinds and Montgomery were added Monday. Benton, Carroll and DeSoto were already subject to the mandate. Reeves, who is still in isolation with his family following the positive test for COVID-19 by one of his daughters, urged Mississippians to wear masks when they go out in public. Reeves stated, “It does make an impact.” Reeves stated, “It does make a difference.”
Reeves lifted the statewide mask mandate on September 30 — Mississippi becoming the first state to do so — which he had issued Aug. 4. He also relaxed restrictions on social gatherings. The number of cases has increased since then. Mississippi’s cases dropped by 54% during the mandate. Reeves was reluctant to issue a statewide order for masks in the summer. Instead, he took a county-by–county approach because state hospitals were getting overloaded. Reeves stated that it is more effective to have mask orders and restrictions in place for each county, as people are more likely and better to listen to the orders. He also stated that he doesn’t like the “heavy handed of government” ordering mask wearing or other mandates. Recent calls for the reimplementation a statewide mandate on mask wearing have increased as Mississippi’s top health officials continue to pressure the governor to take action. “It’s time. We are tired. We are tired. “Wearing the mask makes a big difference. All of us want schools and businesses to remain open. We don’t need to sit and watch the train wreck. You can alter the outcome. Please.”