On Monday night, the Indianola Board of Aldermen unanimously decided to reduce the numbers pertaining to social gatherings in the city, where social distancing is not possible, from 20 persons indoors and 50 outdoors to 10 indoors and 50 outdoors in alignment with Gov. Tate Reeves' statewide executive order.
Alderman Darrell Simpson voiced his opinion that although the city could be more restrictive than the state, it should not be less restrictive.
“Exactly, which is why we need to reduce it to 10, is what I’m requesting,” said City Attorney Kim Merchant.
According to information passed on by Mayor Steve Rosenthal, Sunflower County's number of new positive cases has increased by 47 and three additional deaths have been recorded since December 22.
And according to Sunflower County Emergency Management Director Denny Evans, as of Monday at 6 p.m., the county has had a total of 2,335 positive cases and a total of 59 deaths.
The E-T reported 2,260 total positive cases at press deadline last week.
None of the other provisions associated with the city's current proclamation were changed, so that leaves the curfew and the mask mandate in place as well. Reeves' most recent order—1539—also names Sunflower County as one of the 78 out of the state’s 82 counties under a mask mandate.
