WCBI NEWS AT TEN - 03/20/2020

WCBI NEWS AT TEN - 03/20/2020

Gfx this just in to the newsroom tonight, the mississippi state department of health is now recommending that áallá restaurants and bars across the state suspend dine-in service in an effort to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

Health officials suggest switching to carry-out / delivery service only for the foreseeable future.

This does not apply to gas stations, grocery and convenience stores, or pharmacies.

The department of health also recommends that all social gatherings, including church services, funerals, and weddings, be kept to 10 or fewer people.

As the cases of covid-19 across mississippi increase, so are the options for screening and testing.

In some places you don't even have to step foot in a doctor's office.

The university of mississippi medical center is partnering with several state agencies and c- spire to make it happen.

Courtney ann jackson explains.

The model that's been created is intended to prevent a bottleneck of folks at this mobile testing site.

"it's not open to the general public.

We will paralyze our process if it were to be open to the general public.

We would also frankly be wasting precious testing supplies on individuals that may not need it.

So, it's critical that we go through the screening process to identify the high-risk patients that need to be tested."

That screening won't be done in person.

A public- private partnership with cspire will allow a telehealth screening or even a phone call for those without a smart phone.

"scheduling covid- 19 test is logistically challenging.

This app provides the solution to scheduling test with ummc."

If the criteria is met-you'll be given a next day appointment to come get a test at this mobile site.

Because ummc made changes internally this week-their employees are prepared to man the site.

"we would schedule 128 appointments today.

So the maximum number of testing appointments we would do would be 128.

So that's 9 am to 5 pm 16 appointments an hour."

But there's no playbook on this.

Ummc is using best practices but they know there will be variables they can't account for.

"be patient.

We are learning on the fly.

We have not had time to pilot this and bear with us.

I promise you we are all doing everything we can do."

Screenings on the app begin monday morning at 8.

And testing at the fairgrounds will start tuesday at 9.

Ummc is also working to develop an in- house test .they hope to have that available in the next week.

That would also increase the number of tests available in the state and alleviate the work being done at the state lab.

Vo off top a local doctor says two people have tested positive for coronavirus in the columbus area// dr. james woodard spoke at an event organized by the allegro family clinic// allegro brought medical professionals together to relay information to the public about routine doctor visits// doctor woodard says the situation is changing rapidly// "all this is changing every five minutes.

If you're looking at the internet there are new numbers.

There, i think are two confirmed cases, and in columbus.

It's here.

The main thing is don't get frightened.

Just use common sense.

Don't go into crowds, wash your hands as much as you can, and don't touch your face," the numbers from the state department of health do not reflect the cases in lowndes county// a baptist golden triangle spokesperson would not confirm or deny if a patient was being treated at the hospital// first look stinger first look if you're looking for a day to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air, saturday is your best bet.

Rain will build back in for sunday with rain chances persisting into next week.

Temperatures will be on the warm side with highs anywhere from 10- 15 degrees above average.

Friday night: rain exits by 10pm, leaving us with a few clouds.

Lows will be in the low 50s with northwesterly winds.

Saturday: while a few morning sprinkles can't be ruled out, most of the day will be dry.

Some clouds will linger, but we'll see at least a few peeks of sunshine with highs in the mid 60s.

Saturday night: clouds will once again increase with chances for rain developing late.

Temperatures will fall into the mid and upper 40s.

Sunday: widespread rain showers will persist through take new at 10 stinger lamar county law enforcement want you to watch out for someone with police lights but they aren't the police.

Sheriff hal allred says the driver of a silver nissan altima turned on red and blue lights before going around another car.

The incident happened on highway 17 today.

Allred says the vehicle had a lowndes county, mississippi license plate.

If you see this vehicle, call 9-1-1.

If you are suspicious of vehicle trying to pull you over, turn on your hazard lights and call 9-1-1 to verify if there's a deputy behind you.

Gfx wipe to gfx a west point man faces a slew of charges in lowndes county.

He's also accused of shooting and killing a dog.

Jamod deloach is charged with 11 counts of burglary and larceny of a dwelling, two counts of burglary of a commercial building, three counts of possession of a stolen firearm, one county of aggravated animal cruelty.

Investigators believe the break- ins happened between july 2019 and march of this year.

A tip helped deputies connect deloach to a january burglary where the homeowner's dog was killed during the crime.

He's also accused of robbing tractor supply company in columbus.

Lowndes county is working with agencies in columbus, west point and clay county.

Stinger if you're looking for a day to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air, saturday is your best bet.

Rain will build back in for sunday with rain chances persisting into next week.

Temperatures will be on the warm side with highs anywhere from 10- 15 degrees above average.

Friday night: rain exits by 10pm, leaving us with a few clouds.

Lows will be in the low 50s with northwesterly winds.

Saturday: while a few morning sprinkles can't be ruled out, most of the day will be dry.

Some clouds will linger, but we'll see at least a few peeks of sunshine with highs in the mid 60s.

Saturday night: clouds will once again increase with chances for rain developing late.

Temperatures will fall into the mid and upper 40s.

Sunday: widespread rain showers will persist through the day, making sunday a great day to stay indoors.

Highs in the mid 60s.

No storms are anticipated as this will just be a rain- only event.

Monday-tuesday: chances for off- and-on showers continue into the early portion of the week under a mostly overcast sky.

Highs will be in the 70s with morning lows in the upper 40s and 50s.

Wednesday- thursday: while rain chances will continue into the middle portion of the week, shower activity won't be as widespread.

I think you'll be able to sneak in some outdoor time, but you may have to dodge some raindrops here or there.

Temperatures will climb into the upper 70s on wednesday and the stinger restaurants and bars are being hit hard - not by the restaurants and bars are being hit hard - not by the coronavirus itself, but everchanging rules..

We find out what one restauranteur thinks about it when we come back.

Restaurants and other smalls businesses in north mississippi are taking a hard punch in their pocket books as the coronavirus continues to ramp up in the magnolia state// yesterday i sat down with local chef and owner ty thames who says he doesn't believe the state is doing enough to help curb the virus// ty, i know this has been a really tough time for you guys and i thank you for taking the time to visit with us about what's going on.

Ty tell me a little bit about on how hard this is when you as the owner have to come in and say i've got to cut you, i've got to cut you, i've got to cut you.

Right, this is an evolving situation and it's so fluid and moving so fast.

Really nobody has the right answer on what to do.

For us, it became a public safety issue.

I'm in the public service, serving food, serving and party, everybody comes here to enjoy themselves and escape the real world.

Now it's, i feel the public spaces have become unsafe.

The social distancing and restaurants just don't work together.

I think it's my responsibility as a business owner to protect my guest and my staff.

That's not an easy decision that you have to make.

How many people have you had to cut from your businesses.

50 to 60.

What has that done to you guys so far that you know of?

We've gone to just doing to go, trying to get, we're not taking any money right now.

It's all about trying to pay the staff, my management and keep them here throughout this situation.

I know from restaurant tyler's standpoint, this is your family.

They're not just your employees they're your family.

That's where some of my personal responsibility comes from.

I don't want any of them to get sick, i don't want any of my guests to get sick.

It's patio season, over t he weekend we were busy, but this is not a snow day, this isn't where schools out it's time to party.

This is a situation where you can't see the enemy and touch, breathing, you don't know who might have this and how fast it can spread.

I have to protect myself.

That is my responsibility.

Governor tate reeves announced he'd been in touch with the small business administration, they were talking about plans on how to accommodate small businesses that are going to be impacted through this.

Not just the restaurant industry but other businesses as well, i know part of the plan was to, i believe up to two millions dollars in loans.

Is the state of mississippi doing enough for our small businesses is my question?

No i don't believe they are.

I think that we should all go to this kind of shut down.

The deal is the longer this goes on, the more damage it's going to do.

If we all band together and say okay we're going to social distance, we're going to shut down, maybe to do go, delivery, buy a gift card now use it later.

But the longer this goes on the harder it's going to be for businesses to come back.

If we can shut it down, stop the spread, then we can all get back to normal later.

Do you think there's a timetable on once it's got to a certain point, there's not turning back?

I think everybody, small businesses, have their own timetable.

Mine might be shorter or longer than others.

That's why this is so hard.

The margins are so small in the restaurant business that this could, where we're at right now is going to end some people.

Maybe 50 percent of restaurants will come back.

If this goes on another two months, three months, maybe only 75 percent of restaurants come back.

This is a national disaster that is carrying on through the restaurant industry.

Not just restaurants, salons, massage therapist, everybody feels the effect of this.

A lot of people don't understand that.

For folks that don't work in small business what would want them to know throughout this?

The way you can help local businesses right now and stay at home, we went to online ordering, to go only.

We've got e-gift cards.

Send it to family, send it to friends.

After this is all over, come enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy being social again, but don't do it now.

Let's come together as a community, let's get rid of this thing so we can all get back to our normal lives.

Thanks ty i know you're very busy we wish you the best.

We'll back after this.

Take sports full mississippi state guard tyson carter learned the love of the game straight take sports full mississippi state guard tyson carter learned the love of the game straight from another basketball bulldog...his very own dad raised by former all-sec player greg carter...not only did carter learn to love the game, he learned to live for it wcbi sports' chris bolton sat down with the father- son duo to talk about that special basketball bond... "..i don't think he wants to play me ...."