Today’s briefing with Mayor Barker goes over testing data from the free testing site at C.E. Roy Community and provides more information about masks and hand sanitizer for organizations, businesses and churches who may need it.

Four factors that go into reopening Hattiesburg include:

• Widespread availability of testing
• Wearing of masks
• Watching local data
• Listening to all voices

As a part of that, the City of Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Forrest General, Hattiesburg Clinic and the Mississippi Department of Health have partnered together to host a free testing site at C.E. Roy Community Center (300 E. 5th Street), on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Symptoms aren’t required to receive a test.

Testing data from the first two weeks of being open include:

• May 18: 70
• May 20: 92
• May 22: 77
• May 25: 38
• May 27: 54

Additionally, helping connect individuals, organizations, businesses and churches in the community with the resources they need to help slow the spread plays a vital role in Hattiesburg’s response to COVID-19. This includes masks and hand sanitizer. All Hattiesburg Fire Department Stations still have about 100 masks left. These are free and available to the public. If an organization/church/business is in need of hand sanitizer or masks, please arrange a pick-up for these items with the Mayor’s Office at 601-545-4501 or mayor@hattiesburgms.com.

See below for the full briefing with Mayor Barker: