County, town declare state of emergency

Published 7:48 am Wednesday, March 25, 2020

The Jefferson Davis County Board of Supervisors has issued a state of emergency for Jefferson Davis County. Details of the emergency order can  be found on page 3 of this edition.

All county offices remain open. Doors will be locked and access will be limited. Please call the office number for assistance.

There is now a drop box available at the Jefferson Davis County Tax Assessor/Collector’s office for car tag, land and mobile home payments.

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The Town of Prentiss Board of Aldermen has also declared a state of emergency for those within the city limits of Prentiss.

“At this time the state of emergency does not include any mandates, but we are asking that all businesses and residents of Prentiss comply with all COVID-19 safety guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Prentiss Mayor Charley Dumas.

“We urge everyone to not gather in groups of 10 or more people, observe proper hygiene, maintain social distancing and only travel for essential reasons.”

Prentiss City Hall remains open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached at 601-792-5196. There is a drop box available for water payments. A receipt will be mailed to customers.

Bassfield City Hall is currently working by drop box. Please call 601-943-5424 for assistance.

The Jefferson Davis Community Hospital is not accepting visitors at this time. The exception to this rule is a parent/guardian with a child or a caregiver with an elderly patient.

There is only one entrance to the hospital, through the emergency room. The front door is locked.

If you feel you have an emergency, you will be screened just inside the door of the ER.

If you pass the series of questions, you will be allowed to see a doctor.

If not, you will be asked to return to the parking lot where a nurse or hospital employee will assist you there.

This policy is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you have syptoms of the coronavirus, all medical officials ask that you call your health care provider, instead of making a trip to the emergency room.

Those with outpatient  orders for lab work or x-rays will also be screened at the door before being allowed to proceed with testing.

Other closures and changes as of press time Tuesday are:

•The Jefferson Davis County Extended Care Facility is on lockdown and will not accept visitors until further notice.

•The M.L. Arrington Fitness Center is closed until further notice. Any pre-paid fee will be honored upon the re-opening of the wellness center.

Patients with outpatient therapy orders are still being treated at the M.L. Arrington Rehab Center, but no visitors are allowed to attend with the patient.

•The Prentiss Public Library will be closed until further notice.

•Public access to the Ronald W. Jones Memorial Complex will be limited until further notice.

•Prentiss Primary Care will open April 1 for telemed and phone calls only. Please call 601-792-3200.

•JDC Rural Health Clinic is not taking walk-ins at this time. Please call the office at 601-792-2200 for assistance.

•The Jefferson Davis County School District has closed all schools through April 17.

•Prentiss Christian School is closed to students until further notice.

All sporting and extracurricular activities for all schools have been suspended at this time. Students are currently completing lessons online provided by teachers.

•Services at Prentiss Baptist Church, Prentiss United Methodist Church and Bethany Baptist Church have been canceled until further notice.

•Ramey’s is now open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., and Sunday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Senior hours are Monday through Saturday from 6:30 until 7:30 a.m. These hours will be in effect until Easter Sunday. Ramey’s will be closed Easter Sunday.

At this time they are allowing customers one loaf of bread, one pack of hamburger buns and one pack of hotdog buns per person.

•Palace Drugs is limiting the number of customers inside the store at one time. Please call 601-792-4959 for assistance.

•Hudson Drugs is keeping the same hours at this time. They can be reached at 601-792-4467.

•Newpointe Pharmacy in Bassfield is open for drive through only. Please call in refills at 601-943-6913.

•Stamp’s Insurance office is closed until further notice. If you need to make a payment and cannot do so online, please call 601-441-7606 or 601-543-9956 to get assistance or set up an appointment.

•State Farm will be closing on Thursdays through April 16. They will continue regular 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. hours the other days of the week. They can be reached at 601-792-4091.

•Farm Bureau is open for business, but entry to the building is limited to staff and by appointment only. Please call the office at 601-792-5138 for more information.

•Alfa remains open 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Please call to make an appointment at 601-792-5161.

•`The 37th annual Run for the Roses, originally scheduled for April 18, has been postponed indefinitely.

This is a rapidly changing situation. As such, all dates reported above are subject to change as cases of the virus increase or governmental entities adjust recommendations.

Please email editor@prentissheadlight.com to report closures or changes to your business of office hours and procedures.