Thursday will mark the seventh month anniversary of when the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Warren County.

In that time, more than 1,500 Warren County residents have contracted the virus and 55 have lost their lives. Also in that time, the county has seen at least two waves of the virus roll through, the first peaking in August, with October seeing a much smaller surge.

And even though October’s daily average of new cases is higher than September, the month is still far better than the summer’s peak. And the past week has been better than the previous week, with fewer cases being reported.

Through Saturday, Warren County has reported an average of 5.4 cases per day in October, compared to the 3.5 cases per day in September. Saturday, officials with the Mississippi State Department of Health reported five new cases in the county.

Throughout the months-long pandemic, local officials have continued to adjust restrictions and regulations to curb the spread of the virus. Currently, both the city of Vicksburg and Warren County officials have ordered a mask mandate through at least Nov. 2.

The mandate requires anyone entering a business or public building, or anyone at an event where social distancing is not an option, to wear a mask. Mayor George Flaggs Jr. has indicated the city is likely to extend that mask mandate through at least the early part of December.

Overall, state health officials announced 1,212 new cases in the state, with 17 new virus-related deaths. Since the first case was reported in Mississippi on March 11, the state has confirmed 115,088 cases and 3,255 deaths.

Below are the average daily cases in Warren County by month:

• April — 2.2 cases per day (67 total cases)
• May — 3.3 cases per day (103 total cases)
• June — 8.5 cases per day (254 total cases)
• July — 16.8 cases per day (521 total cases)
• August — 11.9 cases per day (368 total cases)
• September — 3.5 cases per day (104 total cases)
• October — 5.4 cases per day (130 cases thru 10/24)