The Mississippi State Health Department issued a statewide moratorium Friday afternoon for most non-emergency surgeries across the state in an effort to provide additional overnight hospital beds for COVID-19 patients.

The order, issued by State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs, comes on the same day that the state reported a record-high number of COVID-19 hospitalizations.

On Thursday, a group of Mississippi physicians and medical leaders pleaded with the public to adhere to social distancing and mask-wearing in public to slow the spread of the virus.

Five of the state’s largest hospitals were at full capacity Thursday with several more nearing capacity.

The order postponing surgeries begins on Sunday and continues through July 20.