Warren County set a new one-day high for COVID-19 cases reported, as 49 new cases were reported Friday.

The previous record of 37 new cases was set Monday.

The new cases push Warren County perilously close to being declared a “hot spot” by state health officials. If it is declared as such, it would bring about more strict COVID-19 restrictions, including tighter social distancing measures and stronger mask mandates. Currently 23 counties — including Claiborne and Sharkey counties — are under those state orders.

Gov. Tate Reeves is expected to announce additional counties and restrictions Friday afternoon, which could include Warren County.

In the past seven days, Warren County and the city of Vicksburg have ordered mask mandates, requiring masks be worn in businesses and public buildings. In that same time, the county has reported 154 new cases, an average of 22 per day.

In the past two weeks, which is a measuring stick for state health officials, the county has now reported 248 new cases.

With Friday’s surge, Warren County has now reported 825 cases since the first one was reported locally on March 29.

We are reaching out to local and state health officials and will update this story shortly.