No parties allowed...unless its mine: Mississippi Gov. Reeves holds a Christmas party with maskless revelers days after the state health department told residents to avoid ALL social gatherings
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves held a Christmas party with maskless revelers this week, just days after his state health department told residents to avoid all social gatherings until further notice.
The Republican governor welcomed guests to the grounds of the Governor's Mansion Wednesday night.
Partygoers weren't wearing masks and there appeared to be little social distancing, despite Reeves encouraging Mississippians to wear face coverings and 'be extra cautious and mindful' two days earlier.
Reeves had been forced to defend his decision to plow ahead with his holiday plans this week after elected officials revealed they had received invites for several gatherings at his residence.
This comes as COVID-19 cases are soaring in the state, with officials reporting a record number of new daily cases Wednesday.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves held a Christmas party with maskless revelers this week, just days after his state health department told residents to avoid all social gatherings until further notice. Pictured the party above
The Republican governor mingled with guests in the grounds of the Governor's Mansion Wednesday night
Partygoers weren't wearing masks and there appeared to be little social distancing, despite Reeves encouraging Mississippians to wear face coverings and 'be extra cautious and mindful' two days earlier
The number of guests and who was in attendance Wednesday night was not clear but it appeared only the servers were wearing facial coverings.
Wednesday's party marked just the first of a series of festivities Reeves has planned as he vowed to welcome state officials to holiday celebrations at his home.
Reeves was forced to defend his plans after several elected officials said they were invited to his Christmas party happening Wednesday.
He has also invited lawmakers to separate parties next week.
The governor addressed the criticism in a press conference Wednesday saying he had invited family, friends and state officials to multiple parties, but he expects many will choose not to attend.
'What you'll see at our events over the next several weeks, in which we've invited primarily friends and family to a couple of events, but also those individuals that are statewide leaders or agency heads or certainly leaders in the House and the Senate - many of whom will choose not to come, which is certainly their prerogative - but we'll certainly open the mansion to no more than 10 people indoors. They'll be required to wear a mask once indoors,' Reeves said.
Reeves was forced to defend his decision to plow ahead with his holiday plans this week after elected officials revealed they had received invites for several gatherings at his residence
'We'll also open the outdoors of the space outside the mansion as well.'
Reeves, who became governor in January, said he canceled many social events for the year, including a 16th birthday party for his oldest daughter and an open house traditionally held the first Friday of December.
He said he did not know how many people were invited to the Governor's Mansion parties and he did not specify how many events he plans to host but his office insisted they would be in line with state coronavirus guidelines.
There are 122 members of the state House and 52 state senators, and Reeves is planning to hold parties for both groups, Mississippi Today reported.
After either receiving an invitation to the governor's party or hearing about it, some lawmakers said they would not attend.
Wednesday's party marked just the first of a series of parties Reeves has planned for the holidays as he vowed to welcome state officials to holiday celebrations at his home
The governor addressed criticism over his party plans in his press conference Wednesday saying he invited family, friends and state officials to multiple parties, but he expects many will choose not to attend
The number of guests and who was in attendance Wednesday night was not clear but it appeared only the servers wore facial coverings
Reeves was forced to defend his decision to plow ahead with his holiday plans this week after elected officials revealed they had received invites for several gatherings at his residence
Democrat Rep. Robert Johnson of Natchez told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he didn't think he received an invitation, but he thinks the parties are 'inappropriate.'
'It's a time for all of us to be diligent and try to make sure that we're setting good examples until we get this pandemic under control,' Johnson said.
'I don't think it's fair to represent to the public that it's OK to go about business as usual.'
Reeves has often told people not to host gatherings as the virus spreads across the state.
He issued a new executive order Wednesday that restricts social gatherings statewide to 10 people indoors and 50 outdoors when social distancing is not possible and has issued a mask mandate for all Mississippi schools and in 61 out of 82 counties in the state with the highest number of new coronavirus cases.
The new executive order additionally limits schools' indoor sporting events to four spectators per student participant and a maximum of 250 spectators.
On December 2, exactly one week before the party, Mississippi's Health Officer Thomas Dobbs issued guidance for all residents to avoid all social gatherings as cases surged across the state
On Monday he told residents to 'be extra cautious and mindful' and urged people to wear masks.
'COVID-19 continues to rage throughout the country and here in Mississippi. Please be extra cautious and mindful during this time,' he tweeted.
'We will have an update on our EO later this week - in the meantime the best tool is the same: wear a mask. Avoid crowds. Be smart. Protect loved ones.'
In a follow-up tweet he then said there would be 'no large crowds' at his residence over the holiday season this year.
'Christmas at the Governor’s Mansion is very different this year. No large crowds to see the decorations — social distancing & masks,' he wrote.
While the governor may not have broken his own executive order in terms of the size of gathering, he seems to have ignored the advice of his state health department.
Mississippi smashed its own record for the most coronavirus cases in a single day Wednesday
On December 2, exactly one week before the party, Mississippi's Health Officer Thomas Dobbs issued guidance for all residents to avoid all social gatherings as cases surged across the state.
'MSDH strongly recommends that EVERYONE avoid all social gatherings until further notice, such as: - Parties - Funerals - Family Gatherings - Weddings - Sporting Events - In-Person Church Services,' he tweeted.
Mississippi smashed its own record for the most coronavirus cases in a single day Wednesday.
A total of 2,746 infections were recorded, beating the previous record of 2,480 on December 4.
Mississippi has also topped records for the number of patients hospitalized.
There are currently 1,125 people hospitalized with the virus, including 288 in the ICU and 165 on ventilators. Another 24 people have died.
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