Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee counties under mask mandate, governor announced Monday

The state of Mississippi placed additional measures on nine counties to combat the increase of COVID-19 cases.

MSDH reports 586 new coronavirus cases, 0 new deaths Monday

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reported 586 new COVID-19 cases and 0 new deaths Monday, Oct. 19.

Aberdeen football team quarantined, school continues contact tracing

Aberdeen high school football players are now in quarantine and several people in the school tested positive.

COVID: K-12 school report by county, from MSDH

The Mississippi State Department of Health updates its report weekly.

Coronavirus testing locations in Mississippi

Coronavirus testing locations in Alabama

Alabama program helps breast cancer patients feel at ease

A heart-shaped pillow and a chat may seem like small gestures but for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients at DCH Health Systems, it could be just the kind of support they need as they begin treatment.

Auburn to study pandemic in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi

A new study will look at how the pandemic is affecting poor communities in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Coronavirus: Know the basics

As the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) continues - this page will serve as your one-stop for the resources you need to stay informed and to keep you and your family safe.

Post mandate, doctor 'disappointed' at lack of mask wearing

Mississippi’s state health officer said he overestimated the number of people who would continue to wear face coverings to prevent the spread of coronavirus after the statewide mask mandate was lifted.

Local farm temporarily closes after two employees test positive for COVID

One agri-tourism site in north Mississippi is closed after a couple of employees tested positive for the coronavirus.

Chickasaw County supervisor encourages public to continue wearing masks

A Chickasaw County supervisor encourages the public to wear masks despite the governor lifting the state’s mask mandate at the end of September.

Family becomes environmental cleaners to help Chickasaw County

One family is doing its part to protect people from the coronavirus.

Southern Miss, UTEP football game postponed

Southern Miss’ football game at UTEP has been postponed, the university announced Friday morning.

Okolona extends mask mandate, adjusts fines

Okolona is one of several municipalities keeping mask mandates in place even after the governor lifted the statewide mandate.

Harris suspends travel after staffer tests COVID-19 positive

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris is suspending in-person events until Monday after two people associated with the campaign tested positive for coronavirus.

Increase in COVID cases linked back to mask mandate being lifted, local doctor says

A local doctor believes the state's recent increase in coronavirus cases can be traced back to the governor lifting the statewide mask mandate.

School for young children doing its best to keep COVID-19 out

The owner of the Pathway Montessori School said she and her staff are working hard to keep the coronavirus out of the classroom.

Amory mayor proud of local merchants, residents for fighting through effects of pandemic

The mayor of Amory said he is proud of the way the city's residents are pushing through, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

EMA director urges community to continue following COVID-19 guidelines

The Lafayette County Emergency Management Director warned the community, with coronavirus case numbers much lower than they were a few weeks ago, he wants to remind everyone to follow the guidelines to prevent the spread.

Alabama's Nick Saban and athletics director test positive for coronavirus

Nick Saban and Greg Byrne tested positive for the coronavirus, according to reports.

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin confirms some players out due to COVID-19 issues

Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin said some players are out due to COVID-19 issues.

SEC postpones LSU-Florida game as Gators deal with outbreak

The Southeastern Conference postponed Saturday’s game between No. 10 Florida and defending national champion LSU a day after the Gators had 19 players test positive for COVID-19.

Johnson & Johnson pauses Covid-19 vaccine trial after 'unexplained illness'

Drugmaker Johnson & Johnson said Monday it has paused the advanced clinical trial of its experimental...

Nettleton Schools taking no chances, placed third-grade students in quarantine

Third-grade students at Nettleton Primary School are currently under quarantine and will remain so for two weeks.

MUW to conduct fall graduation ceremony online

Mississippi University for Women (MUW) will hold its fall graduation ceremony virtually this year.

Residents ready for porch to reopen again for visitation at Bruce Community Living Center

An assisted living center in Calhoun County recently reopened its front porch for visitation but has had to shut it down since then.

Doctor: Mississippi virus indicators go 'unwanted direction'

Mississippi's state health officer says he's troubled by the state's recent rise in COVID-19 cases.

Vanderbilt at Mizzou is 1st SEC game postponed by COVID-19

Vanderbilt’s football game at Missouri on Saturday has been postponed because COVID-19 issues have left the Commodores without enough players.

Clay County remains under curfew

Residents in Clay County will remain under a curfew for a few more weeks.

VIDEO: COVID hospital admissions rise in Mississippi. Is it linked to no mask mandate?

State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs spoke with media members Monday and addressed the state's latest data as Mississippi continues to battle the coronavirus.

United Way of Northeast Mississippi experiencing rough year due to pandemic

WTVA reporter Wayne Hereford spoke with a United Way representative about the tough year so far.

Natchez siblings died of virus days apart, coroner says

A sister and brother in Natchez died of the coronavirus within days of each other, Adams County Coroner James Lee said.

Amory library, museum adjusting to pandemic lifestyle

Libraries and museums are starting to reopen in Monroe County after closing doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

BancorpSouth Arena ready to get back to norm

WTVA reporter Alexis Jones spoke with the interim director of the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo about how the arena is handling the pandemic.

Amory High School going virtual for several days as COVID precaution

Amory High School students will attend a few classes virtually starting Friday due to positive coronavirus cases.

Trick-or-treating faces pandemic hurdles

For fans of trick-or-treating, Halloween is even scarier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MUW also adjusts spring 2021 academic calendar

The university modified its 2021 spring semester due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Judge won't temporarily block Alabama face mask mandate

A federal judge has refused to block Alabama’s mask mandate and other state health orders during the pandemic.

Trump doctor: President symptom-free 24 hours

President Donald Trump’s physician says the president had been symptom-free for 24 hours and his vital signs have remained stable and in normal range.

Alabama inmate dies in hospital months after virus diagnosis

The Alabama Department of Corrections said says a 67-year-old inmate has died in custody at a hospital, four months after contracting the coronavirus in a state facility.

Chickasaw County woman recalls COVID-19 illness

A Chickasaw County woman recalled her experience recovering from the coronavirus.

Ole Miss condenses spring 2021 semester

Ole Miss condensed its spring 2021 semester, canceling spring break.

MSDH reports 215 new coronavirus cases, 0 new deaths Monday

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reported 215 new COVID-19 cases and 0 new deaths Monday, Oct. 5.

CDC again updates guidance to say Covid-19 can spread by airborne transmission

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has again updated its...

White House press secretary and two aides have tested positive for coronavirus

White House press secretary Kayl...

ICC football game postponed because of opponent's coronavirus cases

Itawamba Community College will not play football Thursday because of positive coronavirus cases involving its opponent, Holmes Community College.

Pandemic program to boost Alabama internet use mostly unused

A $100 million program to increase internet usage among low-income Alabama families during the pandemic has gone mostly unused, and the state is sending 300,000 more vouchers in a search for additional takers.

Mississippi moves past 100,000 coronavirus cases

The Mississippi State Department of Health reported 609 new cases of the coronavirus Saturday, pushing the state past 100,000 cases since the pandemic started in March.

Virus spreads on panel handling Supreme Court nomination

Two Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have tested positive for the coronavirus, raising questions about the timing of Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett and whether additional senators may have been exposed.

Governor tested negative for coronavirus after White House visit

Governor Tate Reeves said he tested negative for the coronavirus just days after a joint news conference with President Trump at the White House.

UPDATE: Lawmakers approve funding for hospitals, landlords, farmers

Mississippi lawmakers have voted to send some coronavirus relief money to hospitals, veterans’ centers, farmers and landlords.

Okolona high school student tested positive for coronavirus

Students and several others were sent home to quarantine for two weeks after the recent discovery.

UPDATE: More communities keeping mask mandate

More cities across Northeast Mississippi are sticking with a mask mandate instead of following the lead of Governor Tate Reeves, who dropped the state's mask mandate on Wednesday.

Federal judge loosens absentee rules for vulnerable Alabama voters

A federal judge says older Alabama voters at risk for contracting COVID-19 shouldn’t have to comply with all the state’s requirements for casting absentee ballots in November.

Gov. Tate Reeves allowing statewide mask mandate to expire

Gov. Tate Reeves is allowing the statewide mask mandate to expire at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

MSDH reports coronavirus cases in Starkville schools

MSDH showed the number of coronavirus cases by school this week. Starkville schools explain how it is battling through the pandemic.

Gov. Ivey extends Alabama’s health order, mandatory masking to Nov. 8

Alabama's Safer at Home order was extended until Nov. 8.

Masks still required in City of Tupelo, mayor says

Updated - Some municipalities continue to require masks, even after the governor announced he would allow the statewide mask mandate to expire.

MSU compresses 2021 spring semester

MSU revised its spring semester due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

VIDEO: Aberdeen jewelry store reports sales boom during pandemic

WTVA reporter Erin Wilson spoke with the owner of Buxton's in Aberdeen who reported a successful summer for sales.

Early data shows promising results from Regeneron's antibody cocktail for coronavirus

Biotechnology company Regeneron released some early results of tests using its antibody cocktail in coronavirus patients Tuesday, and said it seemed to reduc...

Only 10 states are seeing downward trends in new Covid-19 cases, and NYC now has a surge

In this uphill battle against Covid-19, letting your foot off the gas too soon can send you backward.That's what places like New York City are discove...

How environmental conditions like cold and wet weather can affect pandemics, and what that means for COVID-19

Numerous scientists have studied how the 1918 flu spread to become the deadliest pandemic in history and which interventions worked, research that is becomin...

University of Southern Mississippi creates free COVID course

The University of Southern Mississippi is offering a free online course aimed to educate the public about the coronavirus.

Alabama jail going to digital mail system for inmates

Inmates in one Alabama county jail will no longer get their mail in the usual manner beginning next month.

White House coronavirus report for Mississippi - Sept. 20

Courtesy of ABC News, WTVA has obtained the White House's lastest COVID-19 report for Mississippi.

Tupelo haunted house adjusting to pandemic

Halloween is fast approaching and it’s time for a visit to a haunted house. But what about the pandemic?

Starkville bars battle through the pandemic

Bars in Starkville struggle to continue finding business amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

West Point food pantry providing support during pandemic

A food pantry in West Point is adjusting due to the COVID-19 pandemic to help the West Point community.

Ole Miss providing testing to better understand COVID-19

The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) is providing free coronavirus tests to students and faculty on campus to asymptomatic individuals as part of a new program.

'Unfathomable': US death toll from coronavirus hits 200,000

The death toll in the U.S. from the coronavirus has topped 200,000, a figure unimaginable eight months ago when the scourge first reached the world’s richest nation.

Oktibbeha County poll workers plan to keep themselves, voters protected

Circuit Court Clerk Tony Rook said voters can expect different safety measures implemented during the special election Tuesday.

CATCH Kids program adjusts to pandemic

Catch Kids talks about how it adjusted during the pandemic.

VIDEO: Houston Junior High football team in quarantine

After one player tested positive the team was put into quarantine until October 2nd.

School district to set up wifi hotspots

A school district in eastern Mississippi is setting up Wi-Fi hotspots on campuses to help students who don’t have internet access at home.

Free COVID-19 test sites open, surgeon general urges testing

The U.S. surgeon general said Friday that Alabama remains in the “red zone” for COVID-19 spread, but numbers are headed in the right direction, as he and state health officials announced the opening of free testing sites.

Mississippi justices: No broad absentee voting during COVID

Mississippi law does not allow absentee voting by all people who have health conditions that might make them vulnerable to COVID-19.

CDC drops controversial testing advice that caused backlash

U.S. health officials are dropping a controversial piece of coronavirus guidance and telling all those who have been in close contact with infected people to get tested.

Plasma donations needed to help COVID-19 patients

Vitalant is asking for plasma donations, especially from COVID-19 (coronavirus) survivors.

MSU holds more drive-thru testing, sees decrease in coronavirus cases

MSU hosted another round of drive-thru COVID-19 testing for students, staff and faculty.

City leaders to suspend recycle program indefinitely

The Starkville Board of Aldermen met Tuesday to consider suspending its current recycling program.

Restaurant owner reacts to governor's order for more seating

One local restaurant owner in Starkville said he's ecstatic about the governor's new order, but he's still waiting.

Students attending Starkville schools to receive free meals

A new program through the United States Department of Agriculture is making challenges one less thing to worry about until the end of 2020.

Nettleton school superintendent talks about suspending in-person instruction at high school

Nettleton High School students are taking virtual classes this week due to a recent outbreak of COVID-19.

Oktibbeha County supervisors extend curfew to October 4

Updated - The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors voted to implement a curfew for residents.

Mississippi extends Safe Return order to end of September

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves extended the state's Safe Return order to Sept. 30.

In-person instruction, after-school activities suspended at Nettleton High School

Superintendent Tim Dickerson said all students will move to distance learning for at least one week.

Birmingham church bombed in '63 planning virtual remembrance

Crowds gather every year at 16th Street Baptist Church to mark the anniversary of the horrific day when a bomb planted by Ku Klux Klansmen went off just before worship, killing four Black girls.

MSU hosted more COVID testing for students and staff

The university provided a way for students and members of the staff to be quickly tested for the coronavirus.

Fauci sticks with projection of vaccine in 2021

Dr. Anthony Fauci says he’s sticking with his projection that a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine may be ready in early 2021. He says it’s possible it could be sooner, but “unlikely.”

VIDEO: Amory wedding venue helping couple plan thier big day in the middle of a pandemic

Arbors of Amory still hosting weddings in the middle of a pandemic, just with a few restrictions.

Ole Miss updates coronavirus cases

The University of Mississippi reported on Monday 270 active coronavirus cases, primarily among students.

For college football on TV, 'the season itself is the story'

The networks that televise college football are adjusting to a smaller inventory of games because many conferences won't be playing this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic.

State: Cybercrime on the rise during pandemic, caution urged

State securities officials say cybercrime including email attacks are on the rise during the pandemic, and they're warning people to be careful online.

Mississippi receives grants to help with rent, utility bills

The state of Mississippi has received $24 million in federal grants to help people struggling to pay rent and utility bills during the coronavirus pandemic, the Mississippi Department of Human Services announced Friday.

Local hospital reports no Coronavirus patients

OCH Regional Medical Center posted the news on its Facebook.

Sales rep helps organizations hold mask fundraisers

Alex Jackson is helping businesses, schools and youth groups to make money while also promoting their brand.

Booneville High School adjusted concessions, payments during football games

To prevent any possible spread of the coronavirus, one local school is changing the way it handles concessions during football games.

Private school headmaster says transparency with parents is important during pandemic

The state health officer said some Mississippi private schools’ coronavirus cases were not counted this week.