(Jackson, Miss.) – Monday, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba signed three executive orders declaring a civil emergency in the City of Jackson and to set forth other measures to help limit the spread and exposure to the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
“We’re going to exercise the greatest level of caution, but we should not be surprised if we hear of more cases. It’s not a matter of whether there have been others who have contracted the virus, it a matter of how many have actually been confirmed cases. So, the more we exercise the precautions – the social distancing, the handwashing hygiene, the coughing hygiene, the better we are prepared to see this reach its conclusion,” said Mayor Lumumba during the press conference.
Additionally, Mayor Lumumba signed executive orders to close all non-essential city government offices and require all non-essential city employees to work remotely and to prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people in the City of Jackson
Mayor Lumumba also called on restaurants located in Jackson to consider moving towards take-out service and to ensure adequate spacing between patrons who choose to dine-in their establishments to limit the spread of the virus.
“We know that this has severe economic implications and we know that those establishments are concerned, but we believe that the public health concern rises above that. And so, we will be working in combination with them and if need be, we will exercise more extreme measures going forward,” said Mayor Lumumba.
The City of Jackson COVID-19 Taskforce is set to meet on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
Executive Orders:
1. Mayoral Proclamation of Civil Emergency
2. Executive Order Closing City Hall & Requiring Non-Essential Personnel to Work Remotely