The coronavirus has given Leflore County its first death.
A male patient who had tested positive for COVID-19 died Sunday morning at Greenwood Leflore Hospital, according to Coroner Debra Sanders.
He was one of 18 people in Leflore County who have tested positive for the respiratory disease since the outbreak began earlier this month.
“The patient was in the 70s and had multiple complications,” said Christine Hemphill, a spokeswoman for the hospital.
The hospital has created a special 16-bed unit to treat patients suffering from COVID-19. Four of the beds are equipped for intensive care treatment.
As of Monday morning, there were six patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19 being treated in the unit and two others under investigation for the virus.
Most people infected with the coronavirus only get mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and recover in weeks. Many, however, will need hospitalization. Those most vulnerable to getting severely ill from the virus are older adults and those with existing health problems, who can develop severe complications such as pneumonia.
Statewide, there have been 847 cases of the coronavirus and 16 deaths, according to the latest numbers from the Mississippi State Department of Health. Carroll County reported its first coronavirus case this weekend.
Although most of the deaths have involved people 60 years or older, two of the deaths this weekend were of people between 40 and 49.
On Tuesday, the Department of Health and the University of Mississippi Medical Center will open a one-day drive-through site in Greenwood to test those who are showing symptoms of the illness that has claimed so far more than 3,000 deaths nationwide.
The sample collection site will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Leflore County Civic Center on Mississippi 7.
The drive-through testing in Greenwood is free of charge but by appointment only.
Anyone experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 — fever, cough or shortness of breath — who feels he or she should be tested must first go through a free screening by a UMMC clinician through a smartphone app, the C Spire Health UMMC Virtual COVID-19 Triage app. Those without a smartphone can call 601-496-7200.
Those identified during the screening as being at high risk for having the coronavirus will receive an appointment to be tested Tuesday at the Civic Center site. At the site, they will give a specimen sample, via a nose swab, without exiting their vehicle. UMMC will later notify those tested of the results.
The health officials ask that only those showing symptoms use the C Spire Health app or call.
Beginning Tuesday, similar to the one-day pop-up mobile collections around the state, UMMC Grenada and UMMC Holmes County in Lexington will offer drive-through COVID-19 specimen collections via screening on the C Spire Health app or by calling the phone number.
The collections at both locations will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.
This is a free service by appointment only.
Hours for the app and the phone number are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Those found to be at high risk for having coronavirus will receive an appointment for testing at Grenada or Lexington, whichever is closest to them.
•Contact Kerrigan Herret at 581-7233 or kherret@gwcommonwealth.com. Contact Tim Kalich at 581-7243 or tkalich@gwcommonwealth.com.
