Dobbs warns about crowds

State's top doctor says that Department of Health seeing a rise in cases because of crowded locations

Hospitalized.

State health officer thomas dobbs is warning residents to avoid large crowds and mass gatherings as the state department of health is seeing more coronavirus outbreaks right now.

Our wayne hereford joins us live from tupelo with his warning to those ignoring c-d-c guidelines.

Dr. dobbs said in a news conference today that his department is quote "chasing more outbreaks" across the state.

Dobbs says the health department is seeing these outbreaks in places like churches and even state offices like his own where one person there tested positive.

But he said that person was separated from others and wearing a mask which made a huge difference.

"people are so desperate to get back to normal .

We're seeing all sorts of areas where people are gathering in ways that are not only normal but super normal."

The state's top doctor says that people are desperate to get out now that the shelter in place orders have ended in mississippi.

But he says people are still not social distancing as they should.

" a lot of them are in churches.

We see outbreaks in state offices.

We did have a case in one of my offices but fortunately it was one case.

They all had a conference but they were separated for six feet and wearing a mask."

He also says that he is starting to see cases from summer sports teams at all levels.

"its not at all surprising if you think about how many people are out there that are potentially contagious.

A back of the envelope calculation will tell you that on average one in a hundred or maybe one in a hundred and fifty people are going to be contagious with coronavirus at any given time."

Dr. dobbs says the coronavirus pandemic is not over and it is likely to get worse in the future.

He says , its really important to have a mindset of anyone can have it at any given time.

Reporting live in tupelo wayne hereford wtva nine news.

State testing in west point just