Over the weekend, Warren County continued to record high numbers of new COVID-19 cases, again placing the county among those in the state that are growing closer to being declared a hot spot by state health officials and bringing with it stronger restrictions.

The weekend saw 28 total new cases in Warren County, pushing the number of cases reported since March 11 to 853. The county also reported its 24th death connected to the COVID-19 virus.

But, it is not the cumulative number that puts Warren County on the brink of tighter COVID-19 restrictions, it is the two-week average.

According to Gov. Tate Reeves and state medical officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs, any county that records more than 200 cases over a 14-day period or surpasses 500 cases per 100,000 population could be declared a hot spot. As of Friday’s report, Warren County had reached both thresholds but had yet to receive the label from state officials.

As of Sunday, Warren County had reported 253 cases over the past 14 days, which is equivalent to an estimated 518 cases per 100,000 population. Both figures would push the county into the area state officials said was the area in which tighter restrictions could be ordered.

Claiborne and Sharkey counties are two of the 29 counties in Mississippi already under tighter restrictions, which includes a much more strick mask guideline and additional social distancing guidelines. But, the county may avoid being declared a hot spot since the city of Vicksburg and the Warren County Board of Supervisors have already instituted mask ordinances for all businesses and public buildings.

The city’s current mask order extends through at least Aug. 3, while the county’s mask mandate goes through at least Sept. 8.

Mayor George Flaggs Jr. has scheduled a question and answer session Monday afternoon to continue discussing the city’s response to the spread of the virus. That event will be broadcast live on The Vicksburg Post’s Facebook page. You can view it HERE beginning at 2:30 p.m.