Name: Gov. Tate Reeves on Mississippi coronavirus shutdown: 'I have to ask you for one more week'
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Gov. Tate Reeves on Mississippi coronavirus shutdown: 'I have to ask you for one more week'

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Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsGov. Tate Reeves announced Friday that he is extending his statewide&nbsp;stay-at-home order by one week, though loosening restrictions on some nonessential businesses. The lockdown order was set to expire Monday.“I have to ask you for one more week. One more week of vigilance. One more week of sheltering in place," Reeves said. "... We need one more week to break the back of our enemy."Mississippi has seen the greatest increases in new coronavirus cases and deaths this week. Meanwhile, Reeves&nbsp;repeatedly stressed his desire to reopen the economy as soon as possible during Friday's press conference — possibly as early April 27, ."We are looking in the eyes of the greatest economic crisis in our memories. Not because our economy failed like back in 2007 and 2008," Reeves said, "but because of a deadly, contagious pandemic unleashed from China."Reeves framed the issue as&nbsp;imperative for working class Mississippians and small business owners who are struggling during an unprecedented economic crisis.“Some people hear us talk about the economic costs and think of Wall Street hedge funds, millionaires missing bonuses. That’s simply not the case here," Reeves said. "... The burden is being shouldered by working class Mississippians.”Reeves said he would "ease the brakes" on some businesses.Under an executive order signed by Reeves, nonessential business, such as clothing stores or florists, will be allowed to do curbside, delivery or drive-thru sales starting Monday, as restaurants and some other business have already been doing.Reeves said he hopes this will help prevent people from crowding big-box stores.State closures on beaches and lakes will be lifted, Reeves said, leaving it up to local authorities to manage those areas."It's a small thing, but I hope it helps even a bit for people who need to safely get out in the sun for their own sanity," Reeves said. "We need to do anything we can to help address the growing depression, isolation and other mental health issues."The week-long extension&nbsp;comes a day after President Donald Trump said that states&nbsp; about&nbsp;how and when to reopen their states."Some states will open sooner than others," Trump said. "Some states are not in the kind of trouble that&nbsp;others are in. Now that we have passed the peak in new cases, we're starting our life again. We're starting rejuvenation of our economy again in a safe and structured and very responsible fashion."Meanwhile, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba said Friday that the state's largest city .&nbsp;WATCH:Jackson:Some local officials expressed frustration Friday&nbsp;with the governor's approach. Others told the Clarion Ledger&nbsp;the shelter-in-place extension with a slight loosening of restrictions was the correct decision.&nbsp;Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton said his city would mirror the state's order, and the shelter-in-place extension was the right call. But Shelton said he didn't understand why Reeves continued to change and tweak his orders, while not providing local leaders a heads up. He said he didn't know Reeves was planning to&nbsp;extend his order until he tuned into Friday morning's briefing.&nbsp;"There's no need for suspense or a cliffhanger," Shelton said of Reeves. "Tell us what to expect next, tell us&nbsp;what the plan is. Tell us where we're at, and where&nbsp;we're going."&nbsp;Shelton said Reeves could have implemented a "very stringent, uniform statewide order a month ago, and we would've been in a better position than we are now." Instead, he said, the governor's approach has appeared "hodgepodge," and is more difficult for mayors and other local leaders to manage and enforce.&nbsp;Biloxi Mayor Andrew "FoFo" Gilich said he's "in sync" with the governor's office and other Coast mayors, who have been meeting by video conference twice a week to discuss coronavirus and how to coordinate their response.But Gilich said he has concerns about reopening beaches in his coastal city. He said there's "no question" it will draw more people into his city as the virus continues to spread, and in general, reopening beaches "is going to increase the social distancing challenges."&nbsp;&nbsp;"If we open the beach, how are we going to police that?" Gilich&nbsp;said. "Why take a chance? We've made progress (slowing the spread of the virus), and we've seen some good things happening."Moss Point Mayor Mario King said he has concerns about loosening restrictions on businesses prematurely. His city of about 13,000 has seen confirmed coronavirus cases rise from 30 to 70 in the past two weeks. He said the majority African-American city skews older, and many have preexisting conditions, making them more vulnerable to the virus.&nbsp;"You're putting a lot of&nbsp;temptation on business&nbsp;owners, and also us as customers," to start going out into the community again, he said of Reeves' new order.&nbsp;"We're not in a place where we should be opening up businesses," he said, adding he's concerned state officials are "not really listening to the science."&nbsp;Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes said it made sense to allow for careful, curbside sales at retail outlets and reopening of beaches, as long as people continue to comply with social distancing guidelines. He said Gulfport's beaches aren't usually overly crowded anyway, and residents need the opportunity to "get out and get some fresh air and sunshine."&nbsp;"This is hard on everybody, adjusting our habits, to distance and do things that don't come naturally to us," Hewes said, explaining his community's reaction to the shelter-in-place order.&nbsp;"We're very sociable as a people. Not shaking hands, not having face time, they're&nbsp;not just inconveniences, they're changing our way of living."Reeves has been increasingly vocal about his desire to reopen the Mississippi economy in recent days — both at his press conferences and on social media.“We have to. It’s not going to be an option. Lives are at stake due to a rapid increase in poverty as well as this public health crisis,” Reeves said Wednesday. “No business is non-essential to those who rely on its paycheck for food, for supplies and for shelter.”Reeves was more explicit on Twitter Thursday following another surge of Mississippians filing for unemployment."This is insane—the bleeding has to stop. Lives depend on this as well," he wrote.&nbsp;"Please pray for wisdom as we consider all options."&nbsp;Unemployment claims have continued to rise in Mississippi in unprecedented numbers.&nbsp;At least 130,000 residents have filed for assistance since the coronavirus crisis began, according to federal data.On Tuesday, Reeves announced the creation of "Restart Mississippi" task force made up of business leaders that would make recommendations regarding when and how to reopen the state's economy.&nbsp;New task force:When asked why there were no union leaders or direct representatives of workers on the task force, Reeves said the task force members are focused on doing what's right for Mississippians."We don't need union bosses to tell us how to take care of our people," Reeves said. "We never have, and we never will in Mississippi."Trump spoke with governors Thursday, Reeves said, and&nbsp;the president personally encouraged him to reopen Mississippi as soon as he thinks it's&nbsp;safe.Opening the state on April 27 — as Reeves indicated is his plan — would contradict a plan that Trump issued Thursday.The&nbsp;plan, "Opening Up America Again," consists of multiple phases to gradually bring back parts of public life. The number of new coronavirus cases should be on a "downward trajectory" for 14 days before states begin to open back up, according to the plan.&nbsp;Mississippi has seen its highest numbers of new coronavirus cases this week, including 273 Wednesday.“We are at the worst, hardest, most difficult point in the curve," Reeves said.The state would have to wait until at least April 29 to begin reopening the economy under the Trump plan — and that's if the number of new coronavirus begins to decrease.“These are just guidelines. If you read throughout the entire guidelines it is very, very clear that every governor has the discretion to understand what’s on the ground and what’s happening on the ground," Reeves said.&nbsp;"...It&nbsp;also makes exceptions in virtually every single page for those states … where there are not significant outbreaks and &nbsp;where there is not significant community spread.”Reeves said the plan's recommendations were designed more for states or areas that had "a New Orleans-style quick spike," which Mississippi has so far avoided. Reeves said the state will likely have a "longer plateau" of cases.Reeves announced the original stay-at-home order on April 1 to curb the spread of coronavirus. The decision came after mounting calls from residents, health care workers and medical officials.The order went into effect April 3 and has been in place since then. The order bans gatherings of 10 or more and generally requires Mississippians to only leave home for essential reasons, such as grocery shopping and medical appointments.However, the order classified numerous industries, professions and activities as essential,&nbsp;exempting from them from much of the restrictions.There was confusion in the aftermath of the order. Mayors who had already enacted their own restrictions and curfews were uncertain whether this governor's order superseded their own.Reeves made clear that his lockdoown order was a baseline that cities and counties could go beyond, though he later rebuked officials from Greenville, where police ticketed a gathering of people attending a drive-up church service.The incident attracted national attention, and the mayor of Greenville has since said those ticketed will not have to pay the $500 fine.USA Today and the Associated Press contributed to this report.Contact Giacomo "Jack" Bologna at 601-961-7282 or .&nbsp;Follow him on .View Comments

Mississippi Clarion LedgerView CommentsGov. Tate Reeves announced Friday that he is extending his statewide&nbsp;stay-at-home order by one week, though loosening restrictions on some nonessential businesses. The lockdown order was set to expire Monday.“I have to ask you for one more week. One more week of vigilance. One more week of sheltering in place," Reeves said. "... We need one more week to break the back of our enemy."Mississippi has seen the greatest increases in new coronavirus cases and deaths this week. Meanwhile, Reeves&nbsp;repeatedly stressed his desire to reopen the economy...

Gov. Tate Reeves on Mississippi coronavirus shutdown: 'I have to ask you for one more week'

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