Mississippi reached another devastating mark on Thursday during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The State Department of Health reported eight new deaths as of 6 p.m. on Wednesday, bringing the state’s COVID-19-related death total to 201 since March 11.

The Department of Health also reported 259 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, ending a three-day stretch of a decrease in daily case numbers. Mississippi has now reported 5,153 cases since March 11.

Lafayette County saw its second-highest daily number of new cases, reporting 11 on Thursday, and now has a total of 81 cases since March 19. According to MSDH, there are three reported deaths in the County and 10 reported cases at a long-term care facility.

During a recessed Board of Aldermen meeting on Thursday, Oxford’s emergency management director Jimmy Allgood showed a chart that is tracking the number of active cases in Lafayette County and how many have rolled off, either due to recovery or those who have died from the coronavirus. As of April 22, there were 45 active cases, not including the 10 LTC cases. 26 cases have rolled off the total number.

The City is using this data to help determine, with the guidance of medical professionals, when the peak hits. Establishing a peak date will help determine when they will begin the process of gradually and safely reopening Oxford.