Miss. governor: COVID for most kids just 'sniffles'

Mississippi is seeking out-of-state medical professionals and equipment as it breaks its own records for new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Friday that the state requested 65 physicians, 920 nurses, 41 certified registered nurse anesthetists, 59 advance-practice nurses, 34 physician assistants, 239 respiratory technicians and 20 emergency medical technician paramedics.

Reeves said if this staffing level can be attained, it would open up 771 hospital beds and 235 intensive care unit beds not currently staffed in the state. He said workers could be in Mississippi within a week.

Reeves says he won't call for mask mandates in the state, including for schools.

"If you look at those individuals under the age of 12, what you find is that it is very rare that kids under the age of 12 have anything other than the sniffles," said Reeves. Does it happen from time to time? Sure it does.

IMAGE: AP