Mississippi now third worst in US in COVID deaths per thousand; northeast Mississippi slightly worse than state average

As of today, August 17, Mississippi has moved into the THIRD WORST position in the United States in COVID deaths per thousand residents.

Northeast Mississippi deaths per thousand are slightly worse than statewide average.

Mississippi reported 77 COVID deaths today alone (August 17^th).

As shown by statistics available as of 3 p.m. today, Mississippi, with a population of less than three million, has had 2.65 COVID deaths for every 1,000 residents.

The only states worse are New Jersey, with three COVID deaths for each one thousand residents, and New York, which has had 2.8 COVID deaths per thousand population.

For many months, Mississippi had held the number five position in U.S. states in COVID deaths per thousand. [Reported by NEMiss.News, June 29, 2021] https://newalbanyunionco.com/mississippi-fifth-place-nationally-predicted-top-five-in-another-bracket/

Now number three, Mississippi has passed Massachusetts, at 2.63 COVID deaths per thousand and Rhode Island with 2.59.

More shocking still is that nine of 14 northeast Mississippi counties have had more COVID deaths per thousand residents than the state average of 2.65.

Union, Tishomingo, Tippah, Prentiss, Monroe, Marshall, Itawamba, Chickasaw and Benton counties have had more COVID deaths per thousand residents than the state average.

COVID Deaths Mississippi and Northeast Mississippi Counties, August 17, 2021

While people are accustomed to seeing big headlines reporting the total number of COVID deaths in high-population states such as New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, etc., little attention has been focused on this one vital statistic. Sparsely populated Mississippi, while ranking 31^st in the nation in total population, now ranks THIRD IN THE NATION in the percentage of its population to die of COVID.

Governor Tate Reeves proudly proclaims himself a “numbers guy,” yet he is choosing to be blissfully unaware of this vital statistic.

More about Reeves, his immediate predecessor Phil Bryant and the state’s shamefully poor public health performance tomorrow on NEMiss.News.

-JWS