Mississippi News
COVID-19 omicron variant identified in Mississippi
First case of COVID-19 omicron variant identified in Mississippi
On Monday, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reported the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 omicron variant in the state. The case was identified in a fully vaccinated individual who recently traveled to New York. The individual has not been hospitalized.
“We were prepared for the appearance of this variant in Mississippi, and we need to remember that Delta is still a very active variant of COVID-19 currently in the state, as well,” said MSDH State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs in a press release.
Mississippi is the 17th state in the U.S. to report the presence of omicron. Infections from the variant have been identified in dozens of countries on every continent except Antarctica.
The first U.S. omicron case was identified on Nov. 29 in San Francisco in a person who had recently returned from South Africa, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Public health experts have urged caution over panic when reacting to the emergence of omicron. Scientists expect to learn much more in the coming weeks about the new variant. At the moment, much is still unknown about the severity of illness caused by the variant and how it interacts with currently available treatments and vaccines. Dobbs said the best thing people can do right now to protect themselves is to get vaccinated and a receive a booster dose if eligible.
“Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow the transmission rate, and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging. COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death,” he said.
First identified in Botswana and South Africa, omicron has been called a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization. The organization has warned that it poses a great danger to the global recovery from the pandemic, despite the current lack of data on the variant.
Any person that wishes to schedule a vaccination or booster appointment in Mississippi can online at covidvaccine.umc.edu, or by calling MSDH's COVID-19 hotline at 866-498-4948.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
$1 Million Mega Millions Ticket Sold at the Scarlet Pearl Casino & Resort
SUMMARY: A Mega Millions ticket sold at the Scarlet Pearl Casino and Resort in D'Iberville won $1 million after matching all five numbers in the drawing, missing the Mega Ball number of 5. The player could have tripled their prize to $3 million by spending an extra dollar on the Megaplier option. The casino will receive a $5,000 selling bonus. The winner is advised to sign their ticket, keep it secure, and consult legal and financial advisors. They have 180 days to claim their prize. The Powerball jackpot is estimated at $178 million, and the Mega Millions jackpot for Friday is estimated at $284 million.
The post $1 Million Mega Millions Ticket Sold at the Scarlet Pearl Casino & Resort appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
More witnesses take the stand in Beth Ann White retrial
SUMMARY: In the retrial of Beth Ann White, the state called witnesses who testified that she caused a crash that killed a mother and her six-month-old son, and left her two other children with life-threatening injuries. Dr. Shiflett, a pediatric neurosurgeon, testified that he treated the surviving children for severe brain and spinal injuries. The state argues that White was driving under the influence at the time of the crash, with a blood alcohol content three times the legal limit. White has been indicted on multiple counts of DUI, including a felony charge for a fourth offense. Her first trial ended in a hung jury.
The post More witnesses take the stand in Beth Ann White retrial appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Teen charged in death of 14-year-old in Jackson appears in court
SUMMARY: A teenager, John Foote, has been charged with murder for the shooting death of 14-year-old Cameron Horne-Crook in Jackson, Mississippi. During a preliminary hearing, Foote was denied bond. Two other teenagers, Maxle Mooneyham and Siyaski Crawford, were also arrested in connection to the shooting. Mooneyham was charged with tampering with evidence and Crawford with accessory to murder. Crawford admitted to moving the victim's body after the shooting. Additionally, Cameron Horne-Crook's brother, Bryson Horne, was also killed in a separate shooting incident in the area.
The post Teen charged in death of 14-year-old in Jackson appears in court appeared first on www.wjtv.com
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