Gov. Tate Reeves announced Wednesday two new executive orders to continue flattening the COVID-19 curve while reopening Mississippi’s economy—one extending the Safe Return order an additional two weeks and one getting all government employees back to work.
“As a reminder, these should not be taken as a signal that the risk is gone,” Reeves said. “COVID-19 is still here, still deadly, still contagious. It is purely a recognition of the costs of continued shutdowns and heavy regulation.”
Consulting with state health experts on his strategic response plan, the governor has extended the Safe Return order until Monday, June 29, at 8 a.m. with a few new amendments. Under the executive order, the limitation on restaurants and bars that serve alcohol must close to the public by 10 p.m. is lifted.
Gyms and fitness centers are also allowed to increase the number of customers to 50% of maximum capacity, and outdoor and indoor arenas can open under social distancing restrictions such as limiting seating capacity to 25% and following guidelines for business operations under Executive Order No. 1492.
The other executive order sunsets administrative leave for state, local and municipal government employees set under Executive Orders 1458 and 1460 to end Wednesday, July 1. Last month, the governor signed Executive Order No. 1484 directing government employers to begin the process of safely returning all employees back to work.
View Reeves’ Wednesday daily press briefing here.
View the signed executive orders here: Executive Order No. 1495, Executive Order No. 1496.