Here are some local businesses, organizations and events that have been affected by COVID-19.
State of Mississippi
Gov. Tate Reeves issued a Safe Recovery Order, which encourages the use of face coverings but does not require them. Restrictions in the executive order 1525 include:
• Public and private social gatherings and recreational activities where social distancing is not possible are limited to groups of no more than 20 people in a single indoor space or groups of no more than 100 people in an outdoor space where individuals not in the same household are in close proximity (less than 6 feet) to each other. The limitation does not apply to religious entities, voting precincts, students in classrooms or gatherings governed by other capacity limitations.
Every person in Mississippi must wear a face covering, covering the nose and mouth, while inside a school building or classroom, or when outdoors on a school campus whenever it is not possible to maintain a minimum of 6 feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household. Exceptions include medical or behavioral conditions; communicating with someone who is hearing-impaired; persons eating or drinking; persons engaging in fitness centers or other sports activities.
Auditoriums and movie theaters must limit ticket sales to 50% of maximum seating capacity, provided a minimum of 6 feet of social distancing may be maintained between persons not in the same household.
• Outdoor and indoor arenas must limit number of guests to no greater than 25% of the maximum seating capacity.
The new order is in effect until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11.
City of Meridian
Mayor Percy Bland extended the city’s face covering requirement through Oct. 31. Employees and customers as well as everyone over age 2 in public places must wear masks inside businesses. Some exceptions include outdoor exercise, pumping gas, driving alone or with passengers of the same household, in cases of greater health or safety risk, while eating or drinking in restaurants or bars or while working in non-public work spaces where six feet of distance can be maintained.
• The city’s curfew for residents ages 18 and over is in effect indefinitely. The curfew is midnight to 6 a.m. for adults and 9 a.m. to 6 a.m. for residents under the age of 17.
• Animal control: The city of Meridian’s animal shelter is open, but the lobby is closed.
• City of Meridian Parks and Recreation: The Meridian Activity Center is closed.
• Mississippi Department of Public Safety: Visitors may visit the stations only on the day of the week that corresponds with the first letter of their last name, with walk-ins permitted on Wednesdays, according to a news release. Monday: A-E; Tuesday: F-L; Wednesday: “Walk-in Wednesday;” Thursday: M-S; Friday: T-Z. Visitors are encouraged to wear masks inside the stations. Road tests for non-commercial drivers are waived until futher notice to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Lauderdale County
• Animal Control – Owner surrenders/stray: 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (appointments only); Adoptions: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
• East Mississippi State Hospital and the James T. Champion and Reginald P. White nursing facilities in Meridian suspended all off-campus visitors.
• All four Mississippi State Veterans Homes implemented a no-visitor policy.
• Bedford Care Centers, including its facility in Marion, are restricting visitors to all centers.
• Bee Hive Home of Marion is on lock down and closed to outside visitors. Staff and residents are screened daily for COVID-19 virus.
• The Queen City Nursing Center is restricting visitors.
• J.T. Champion Nursing Home is not accepting visitors.
• Alliance Health Center in Meridian is open for services and is screening all individuals who enter the facility. All in-person visitation has been suspended (with limited critical exceptions). Community education programs may be canceled/postponed. Follow Alliance on Facebook for updates.
• Anderson Regional Medical Center: No visitors are allowed until further notice, with the following exceptions: laboring moms, spouse/partner, must remain with the patient from admit through discharge; pediatric hospital (including NICU); emergency and clinic patients, on parent/guardian per day, must be screened between 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; end of life situations, spouse/significant other and immediate family (two at a time); patients undergoing emergency surgery, one support person; Tom C. Maynor Rehab Center patients, one person for discharge training; clinic patients requiring assistance with entry into the clinic or ambulation inside the clinic will be assisted by a staff member.
• Rush Health Systems: No hospital visitors will be allowed until further notice, with the following exceptions. One visitor is allowed per day. Laboring moms – spouse/partner; Pediatric patients (including NICU) – parent/guardian (one per day); End of life situations – spouse/significant other/adult children; Patients undergoing emergency surgery – one support person. All essential visitors will be screened through temperature checks and appropriate questioning. • Patients with a visitor who we have deemed essential will be limited to one visitor per day. • Visitors should stay in the patient room for the duration of the visit. Clinic visitors • There should be NO visitors for clinic visits, except for pediatric visits with one parent/guardian.
BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Mississippi Power
Mississippi Power is reopening its bill payment offices in Gulfport, Hattiesburg and Meridian on Monday, Oct. 5, after being closed to walk-in customers since March.
• Multi-County Community Service Agency: Due to COVID-19 the agency is temporarily providing teleservice only. People in need of service, should call the office to schedule a telephone appointment. Senior citizens or those receiving disability income and have been assisted this year, however, do not require an appointment. Bills may be submitted by mail, email, fax or drop box.
To receive services, the following are needed: the bill for which assistance is needed; photo identification for individuals 18 and over; social security cards for all household members; proof of income for all household members; unemployment/child support/SNAPS; signed authorization for all household members 18 and older. Documents may be submitted by mail, email, fax or drop box. All documents are required before an application can be processed.
Phone: 601-483-4838 or 800-898-0659; Fax: 601-484-3963; Email: Shirley Blanks, [email protected]; Sammie Hoskins, [email protected]; Monesia Essix, [email protected]. Mail/Drop Box: Post Office Box 905, 2906 Saint Paul St., Meridian, MS 39302.
• Wesley House Community Center, 1520 8th Ave., Meridian, has updated its services.
The center distributes family food bags, from 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays in front of the Wesley House for drive by and walk-up clients.
Travelers bags will be available from 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays.
People seeking bill pay assistance may apply online anytime by forwarding their information to [email protected].
The Clothes Closet is closed until further notice and can not accept donations.
The Wesley Hose pre-school will accept students as soon as the center determines it is safe to do so.
People wishing to make donations may call the front desk from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday at 601-485-4736 X 0, Monday-Thursday.
The Child Advocacy Center continues to work through its referrals. Those with questions may call 601-485-4736 X26
For assistance through the Sexual Assault Crisis Center, call the 24 hotline at 601-482-2828.
• Canopy Children’s Solutions is offering to help families navigate different system of resources for free when they are faced with a family crisis, such as unemployment, food instability, utility assistance and mental health challenges. For assistance, individuals can call 800-388-6247.
• The Mississippi State University Extension Service resumed in-person activities with social distancing guidelines in place Sept. 1. Meetings at all Extension offices and units– including the Bost Extension Center, the four regional Research and Extension Centers, and each of Extension’s 82 county offices – will be limited to 50% seating occupancy for conference spaces and auditoriums. Participants must remain 6 feet apart. The use of face coverings and social distancing guidelines will be required at all indoor and outdoor Extension events until further notice.
• Social Security offices are closed to the public for in-person service. Phone service is available 1-800-772-1213 or www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.
NAS MERIDIAN
• NAS Meridian Personnel including all visitors must complete a health questionnaire and have their temperature screened before being admitted to any building on base. No tours are being conducted. Facilities are beginning to reopen and require masks (ages 6 & up), social distancing, temperature checks and COVID-19 screening questions. Hand sanitizer/sinks are available.
COMMUNITY RECREATION: Office is located at the Library conference room is authorized for active duty/dependents. Hours are Monday-Friday 2-6 p.m.; with weekend hours from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Rental equipment limited to individual use items. Paintball & playgrounds remain closed.
PONTA CREEK GOLF COURSE is permanently closed.
FITNESS CENTER is authorized for active duty only. Hours are various depending on commands. Call 601-679-2379 for hours of operations.
HOBBY SHOP is authorized for active duty/dependents. Hours are by appointment only Monday-Friday between 4-7 pm., Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Automotive, woodworking, pottery and welding areas available.
McCAIN RECREATION CENTER is authorized for active duty families and unaccompanied NAS/Tenant Staff & Pilots. Hours: Block scheduling by demographic. Bowling lanes & Subway currently closed. Putt-putt, arcade and movie theater currently open.
RUDDERS PUB & GRILL Open for all who have base access. Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Stay up-to-date by visiting www.navymwrmeridian.com or downloading the free Navy MWR Meridian App.
CHAPEL: Limit to 40 people at one service. Protestant in-person services will resume soon. Catholic services are being streamed live on NAS Meridian Chapel Facebook Page. For more information, call 601-679-3635.
NAVY EXCHANGE main store and Mini-Mart are open normal hours. The tailor shop and barber shop remain closed.
BRANCH HEALTH CLINIC AND PHARMACY are open. Dental and optometry are open to active-duty only. No exams or appointments for retirees.
COMMISSARY: Open but has implemented a 100-percent ID check. Only ID cardholders are admitted and no visitors are allowed at this time.
FLEET AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER is on-call for all counseling services and can be reached at 601-679-2360.
PUBLIC SERVICE
• The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department asks anyone who has flu-like symptoms or who is under quarantine or self-quarantine to notify dispatchers so first-responders will prepared when they answer your call.
• The Lauderdale County Detention Facility suspended visitations.
• Meridian Police Department and Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department are not issuing citations for expired drivers licenses.
• Mississippi Department of Corrections suspended the transfers of inmates from all county jails to MDOC custody. Visitation at all facilities suspended.
• Kemper Regional Correctional Facility suspended all visitation.
EVENTS
• The Knights of Columbus suspended Wednesday night bingo until further notice.
• Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum has canceled the 2020 Soule’ Live Steam Festival and COAA Fall Rally. The museum has reopened for self-guided tours on a limited basis. Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
FOOD ASSISTANCE
• Wesley House Community Center distributes family food bags from 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays in front of the Wesley House, 1520 8th Ave., Meridian, for drive-by and walk-up clients.
• L.O.V.E.’s Kitchen at 801 18th Ave. South serves lunch 11 a.m. – noon Monday – Saturday.
• Feed by Faith at 3401 Fifth St. serves lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday & Friday. The dining area is closed to the public.
• The Salvation Army at 120 6th Ave., Meridian provides food distribution with a drive-thru from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday and Wednesday and an evening meal each night.
If you have a business, organization or event affected by COVID-19, please email [email protected].
