For the second day in a row, the average number of new COVID-19 coronavirus cases in Mississippi rose sharply Wednesday.

Mississippi State Department of Health officials reported Wednesday that 356 new cases were found in the last 24 hours.

The additional cases reported Wednesday brings the total number of cases found in the state since the pandemic began to 321,764.

The Mississippi State Health Department reported no new deaths on Wednesday, keeping the total death toll to 7,412.

The Delta variant of the coronavirus, one that scientists say is much more easily spread, has begun gaining ground in Mississippi, Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs wrote on social media Tuesday.

“Delta variant rolling through Mississippi,” he wrote. “Fortunately vaccine works for this strain too.”

Through Wednesday morning, approximately 34% of all Mississippians have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccines available.

And approximately 31% of Mississippi’s population are fully vaccinated, the state reported.

For more detailed county-by-county vaccination results visit: https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/12130.pdf

The 7-day, daily average of new cases rose sharply to 210 on Wednesday. It was the highest number since May 24.

The 14-day, daily average of new cases rose to 161 with Wednesday’s update.

Cumulative Cases and Deaths by County

Totals of all reported COVID-19 cases, including those in long-term care (LTC) facilities.

The numbers in this table are provisional. County case and deaths totals may change as investigation finds new or additional information.

County	Total Cases	Total Deaths	Total LTC Facility Cases	Total LTC Facility Deaths
Adams	3124	86	83	16
Alcorn	3309	74	130	20
Amite	1271	43	57	9
Attala	2154	73	175	36
Benton	1024	25	46	10
Bolivar	4848	134	236	33
Calhoun	1744	32	36	6
Carroll	1223	30	51	10
Chickasaw	2117	59	60	15
Choctaw	797	18	2	0
Claiborne	1033	30	45	9
Clarke	1792	80	123	31
Clay	1884	54	38	5
Coahoma	3012	84	129	12
Copiah	3013	66	83	11
Covington	2686	83	139	39
De Soto	22397	273	113	24
Forrest	7888	153	244	52
Franklin	852	23	40	4
George	2533	51	59	8
Greene	1319	34	53	6
Grenada	2641	88	154	32
Hancock	3893	87	69	14
Harrison	18569	317	490	70
Hinds	21005	424	808	132
Holmes	1907	74	104	20
Humphreys	975	33	34	9
Issaquena	169	6	0	0
Itawamba	3052	80	135	24
Jackson	13837	250	241	35
Jasper	2225	48	43	2
Jefferson	663	28	41	7
Jefferson Davis	1087	34	9	1
Jones	8490	167	220	42
Kemper	967	29	44	9
Lafayette	6333	122	187	55
Lamar	6398	88	53	12
Lauderdale	7272	243	443	101
Lawrence	1320	25	27	2
Leake	2732	74	92	16
Lee	10102	176	222	42
Leflore	3518	125	236	52
Lincoln	4021	113	197	40
Lowndes	6557	150	258	63
Madison	10323	227	391	70
Marion	2724	80	158	24
Marshall	4594	105	65	15
Monroe	4179	136	190	55
Montgomery	1290	44	54	9
Neshoba	4083	180	203	59
Newton	2495	64	87	15
Noxubee	1286	34	35	6
Oktibbeha	4675	98	222	36
Panola	4679	111	104	15
Pearl River	4644	148	194	39
Perry	1283	38	21	8
Pike	3380	111	134	36
Pontotoc	4290	73	86	13
Prentiss	2864	61	99	15
Quitman	825	17	0	0
Rankin	14041	282	402	61
Scott	3211	74	115	18
Sharkey	510	17	44	8
Simpson	3016	89	158	20
Smith	1649	34	68	8
Stone	1914	34	85	14
Sunflower	3399	93	123	20
Tallahatchie	1801	42	50	7
Tate	3433	87	80	19
Tippah	2933	68	119	13
Tishomingo	2331	69	102	27
Tunica	1083	27	18	2
Union	4168	78	131	23
Walthall	1359	47	69	13
Warren	4455	121	169	37
Washington	5435	138	190	39
Wayne	2659	42	69	11
Webster	1151	32	61	12
Wilkinson	700	32	25	5
Winston	2311	82	130	39
Yalobusha	1682	40	82	22
Yazoo	3156	71	141	18
Total	321,764	7,412	10,523	1,987