City of Pearl Safer at Home Information Hotline: 601-933-7100

Mississippi Coronavirus Hotline: 877-978-6453

Friday, April 24: Gov. Reeves new “Safer at Home” Order starts Mon. April 27 at 8 am.

All retail stores are permitted to re-open but must follow Health Dept. guidelines for social distancing, and sanitization. Owners will have to limit the total number of people in a store at one time to 50% of the official capacity.

Restaurants are allowed to continue take-out, curbside and delivery service. Dining rooms remain closed.

Personal services and entertainment businesses remain closed. This includes gyms, fitness centers, hair and nail salons, barbershops and movie theatres.

Gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited.

Churches are encouraged to continue online services.

Only essential travel is encouraged and people are asked to sanitize, wear masks and travel with as few people.

Click here to see Executive Order 1477 Click here to see answers to questions about the Order.

Friday, April 17: Gov. Reeves extends current Shelter in Place order until April 27

*Changes starting Monday, April 20 at 8 a.m.:

•Non-Essential businesses can reopen with curbside service only. No customers are allowed in the stores.

•Public lakes reopened with proper social distancing.

Governor Tate Reeves Shelter In Place Executive Order 1466 until April 20. (4.1.20) /sites/default/files/1466%20highlighted.pdf

Governor Reeves Executive Order 1463 on Social Distancing and Businesses (3.24.20) /sites/default/files/Executive%20Order%201463%20%20-%20essential%20businesses.pdf

“What is Essential?” Click here for MEMA guidance: https://www.msema.org/news/covid-19-frequently-asked-questions-answers/

State Dept. of Health website with latest information: https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,420.html

Business Loans: SBA Disaster Loans are available to Small Businesses in MS, apply at :https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/ApplyOnline

Unemployment: If you have been laid off or lost a job please apply for unemployment benefits online at https://mdes.ms.gov/unemployment-claims/ or call 888-844-3577.

Description of the Cares Act/Paycheck Protection Program for employers and employees: /sites/default/files/Paycheck%20Protection%20Program%20Overview.pdf

Trash Pick-Up: Waste Management is asking residents to refrain or limit the amount of non-essential waste placed at the curb such as bulky and yard waste materials at this time. Yard waste includes items such as grass clipping, brush, or tree limbs that do not fit safely inside your container. Regular collections are continuing but there may be delays due to the volume of trash and precautions being taken by the company.

Tuesday, April 14: Gov. Reeves closes public school buildings for the rest of the academic year.

Monday, April 6: Pearl Day Concert rescheduled to Oct. 30.

Friday, April 3: Statewide Shelter-in-Place ordered by Gov. Reeves until April 20.

Monday, March 30: Updated City Operations
City offices are fully operational and maintaining essential operations.

City Hall: In an effort to follow MS Department of Health protocols, All city offices will conduct a majority of city business via phone and email. This will help us limit foot traffic in city buildings.

Community Development: Please call the office (601-932-3526)or check on-line for forms and permits at https://www.cityofpearl.com/community-development

Public Works: All water bills must be paid through the drive-up window, online or by mail. If you have a concern or problem and need to speak to someone about your water bill please call the office at (601-932-2262 ext. 1300)

Parks and Rec: All Parks are open but limited to gatherings of 10 or fewer people. Youth baseball and softball activities are postponed through April 30.

Public Safety: Please be prepared to answer screening questions in calls for service. In order to better serve our citizens during this time, the dispatcher may ask additional questions to ensure proper response by Police & Fire.

Senior Services: The Senior Center is closed through April 30. Care Packages are available for pick-up and staff can deliver to seniors in need.

All current room reservations for the Community Room, Pearl Parks and Rec Building and the Senior Center will be rescheduled for after April 30. No new reservations being taken.

These measures are being done to promote the health and safety of the public and our city staff. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation during this very unusual time.

Tuesday, March 24

Restaurants: Nearly all Pearl restaurants are open and offering take-out and delivery. Please support our businesses as best you can!

Monday, March 23

“Assist our Seniors”: The City of Pearl Senior Services is in need of donations to help our prized senior citizens. Many of them can’t get out to shop during this emergency. If you have the means, please consider bringing groceries (bread, canned goods, cereals, meat, vegetables, bottled water, paper goods (toilet paper, tissues, paper towels) cleaning supplies (dish soap, sanitizers, bar or liquid soap) and or monetary donations to the Senior Services Building (behind the Pearl Public Library) starting tomorrow, March 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The city cares for hundreds of seniors every month and many have been shut-in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since they are at highest risk, we want to facilitate delivering essentials to them!.

Friday, March 20

Health Dept. confirms first 3 cases in Rankin County.

A reminder from Pearl Public Works: only human waste and toilet paper are flushable. Baby wipes, paper towels, and even “flushable” wipes may clog your sewer line and cause overflows. Let’s all work together to avoid problems.

SBA approves disaster loans to businesses for lost revenue. apply here: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

Thursday, March 19:

Gov. Reeves closes all public schools through April 17.

Wednesday, March 18:

The Mayor’s Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for April 11 has been canceled.

Tuesday, March 17:

Board of Alderman authorize a Proclamation of Local Emergency

Sunday, March 15:

Mayor Jake Windham met with all city department leaders on Sunday and worked out the following proactive precautions to city services in response to the Coronavirus pandemic effective 3/16/2020.

City offices will be fully operational, fully staffed, and maintain essential operations.

Pearl Library Closed:

The Central Mississippi Regional Library System and the Board of Trustees have made the most difficult decision to close our twenty (20) branches in Rankin, Scott, Simpson and Smith Counties and the Headquarters office in Brandon, MS, to the public. With direction from the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Board of Trustees of CMRLS have decided to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our area, effective Monday, March 15, and until further notice. This closure affects traditional library services, all programs, outreach services, and meeting room reservations made by the library.

CMRLS services can still be accessed through our digital materials. There are thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, music, and more, available 24/7.

We will continue to update our social media and website, Cmrls.lib.ms.us, about any further disruptions to library services.

COVID-19 Testing

Anyone with flu-like symptoms, especially those who are older or in poor health, should see a healthcare provider as a matter of general good health. Healthcare providers can assess individual cases which may need specific testing for COVID-19.

Prevention and Preparedness
For Individuals

Preventive measures against COVID-19 are the same as those for other respiratory viruses like the flu. To help prevent getting and spreading disease:

Stay home if you are sick, and avoid close contact with anyone who is ill.

Cover your coughs and sneezes. When possible, cough, sneeze or blow your nose into a tissue, and throw the tissue away.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, especially after coughing or sneezing, blowing your nose, and using the bathroom. Effective handwashing takes about 20 seconds, and includes cleaning under fingernails, between fingers, and washing the back of hands as well as the front.

Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often.

Stay in good overall health by eating right and staying active. If you are living with diabetes, heart disease or other condition, keep in touch with your doctor and stay current with your treatment.

During or before flu season, get a flu shot. Flu vaccination can prevent the flu or make it less severe, and decrease your chance of hospitalization and death. It also keeps you healthier and better able to fight off infections.

For People at High Risk

People at risk for serious illness from COVID-19 are older adults and those with a chronic illness such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease. These people should take simple precautions at all times to limit their exposure to others who may be ill:

Keep more space between you and others as you go through the day.

Avoid crowds. When you do go out in public, keep away from others who are sick and limit close contact.

Wash your hands often, especially after being in public places.

If COVID-19 begins to spread locally, you should stay home as much as possible. Having a supply of important medications and basic supplies can help.

For the latest information please visit the Health Department website at:
msdh.ms.gov