Sunday, August 9, 2020

Bill Crawford: Reeves Takes Firm But Skittish Steps to Stop Virus Spread

Some applaud, some slight Gov. Tate Reeves for his recent firm, but skittish, steps to slow the spread of the deadly COVID-19 coronavirus in Mississippi.


These come as Mississippi’s infections soared and the positivity rate moved to number one in the nation (hitting 25.8% last week). Earlier, Dr. Ashish K. Jha, Director of Harvard’s Global Health Institute, wrote on Twitter that Mississippi was “doing VERY badly” with infections soaring, the positivity rate climbing, hospitalizations up, and the daily death toll nearly doubling.

“Can't open schools now,” he said. “They'll just shut down.” He said the recipe to get schools open would be to stop indoor dining/bars/gyms, impose statewide masking, and fix testing problems. “Then, maybe, kids can go to school safely.”

Soon after, the state health officer and the head of Mississippi’s largest medical center called for school openings to be delayed until September.

“As far as starting traditional school in the near future, I think it’s nuts,” said state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs. “There’s just no plausible scenario where it’s just not going to be bad.”

“It is time to make the tough decisions,” Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Vice Chancellor of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, wrote on Twitter. “K-12 schools delay start until after Labor Day.” She also called for “a statewide mask mandate.”

In response, Reeves ordered schools to delay opening, but only for some students in a few schools and only until August 17. He also implemented a statewide mask mandate, but only for 12 days from August 5 to August 17.

His mask order calls for masks to be worn inside schools, businesses, and other buildings and spaces open to the public. It also requires masks to be worn outdoors when social distancing of at least six feet cannot be maintained.

His school order delayed openings for seventh through twelfth grades in schools located in hot spot counties Bolivar, Coahoma, Forrest, George, Hinds, Panola, Sunflower, and Washington.

Firm orders, but the short 12 day time frame and the limited number of schools appear skittish in the face of the state’s increased pandemic risks and Dobbs’ and Woodward’s concerns.

“Are there risks? Sure there are,” Reeves said. “I’m aware of those risks and I still believe this is the best decision for our state.”

Prior to this, Reeves had implemented mask and social distancing mandates in 37 counties. And he has consistently encouraged everyone to wear masks. Yet, infections and deaths soared.

His latest actions came after rumors circulated that he was considering much stronger orders, including another stay-at-home mandate. He did not reveal how he had come to his more skittish decisions in contrast to the strong recommendations by state health experts. Nor did he explain how he determined 12 days of mask wearing would make a real difference.

No doubt he was influenced by President Donald Trump’s insistence that schools open as usual. At least Reeves left final opening decisions to school boards, something Trump does not favor.

We can only wonder what the Governor will do if infections and deaths continue to escalate.

“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord” – Proverbs 11:1.

 Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

Posted by Kingfish at 10:35 AM

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

“Rumors circulated that Reeves was considering another stay-at-home order”

This guy will say anything to attack Reeves.

Nobody believes his lies.

August 9, 2020 at 10:41 AM
Anonymous said...

This clown cherrypicking a Bible verse to make his articles seem relevant and effectively written is an abomination to God's word.

August 9, 2020 at 10:49 AM
Anonymous said...

...and the band played on at weddings this weekend...

August 9, 2020 at 11:24 AM
someone said...

opening schools will be a disaster.

August 9, 2020 at 11:34 AM
Anonymous said...

Well, it not just Trump saying that kids need to be back to school. Heard with my own ears Democrat Chuck Schumer sayIng the exact same thing yesterday.

August 9, 2020 at 11:44 AM
Anonymous said...

"...firm but skittish..."

And it was smart but stupid, very belated but right on time, wildly successful but a complete failure, and completely free but a waste of an unknown amount of dollars, too!

"No doubt he was influenced by President Donald Trump’s insistence that schools open as usual."

When you need advice on medical and epidemiological matters, as well as specifics about pediatric viral transmission, a real estate developer and game show host is precisely to whom most sensible people would turn. And if that developer, who has literally no experience with the issues at hand, is completely contradicted by a worldwide array of experts on those topics, it just proves those experts are all - each and every one from Atlanta to Zanzibar and who had never previously met or even heard of each other - involved in the vast conspiracy against him.

The first really, um, "amazing" thing about these vast conspiracies against Trump is how literally tens of thousands of people, many of who previously appeared to be polar opposites, not only managed to all meet up and put that conspiracy together and into operation in a matter of a few months prior to his election, but then, another group, all doctors, scientists, researchers, etc., managed to form yet another conspiracy of thousands in a matter of weeks, all to get poor little Donald.

Of course, the really mind-boggling thing is that of all - every single one - of the accused conspirators in two totally unrelated conspiracies has managed to keep their mouths shut, many for over 4 years.

Two tips: Never assign conspiracy to what is better explained by stupidity and when you hear hoof beats, don't suspect pink and blue striped zebras.

August 9, 2020 at 12:11 PM
Anonymous said...

Either wide open or shut it down at least till New Year. Always gonna be around like other viruses. We are essentially fucked as a Society and will need a long time to regroup.

August 9, 2020 at 12:54 PM
Anonymous said...

I've never witnessed anything like it. Everyone with access to some sort of media is all of a sudden an expert on what should be done.

August 9, 2020 at 3:02 PM
Anonymous said...

Any time I see a bible verse attached to an arguement, I immediately know it’s total BS.

August 9, 2020 at 3:37 PM
Anonymous said...

That scripture is an admonition that God desires his worshipers to be honest in their business dealings, thus the "cheating" pair of scales.

The column is about the progression of what has happened and motive behind it, not a question of honesty/dishonesty associated with it. Seems like apples and oranges.

August 9, 2020 at 6:49 PM
Anonymous said...

Isn’t Dr. Osterholm every anti-maskers favorite? Take a look at this. He’s advocating for a complete six-week nationwide shutdown. I guess since masks don’t work there isn’t any alternative.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/opinion/coronavirus-lockdown-unemployment-death.html

August 9, 2020 at 10:13 PM
Kingfish said...

He's advocated wearing masks.

He's been changing his tune lately on several things. He was the biggest booster of reopening schools, quite adamant about it, now he is turning around .

I also notice how often he is now on tv. Methinks he is now becoming a celebrity expert and playing to the crowd a little.

August 9, 2020 at 10:20 PM
Anonymous said...

How can one be 'firm'...yet...'skiddish'. Is that like a principal who whups yo ass but was hesitant to do so?

August 11, 2020 at 2:29 PM

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