The Mississippi Department of Health reported 2,326 cases of positive COVID test results Friday-Sunday, an average of just over 775 cases per day.

The 2,326 total is the highest one-day figure since January and the first time new cases have been over 1,000 since February.

Case totals are often higher on Monday MSDH no longer reports cases over the weekend, so Monday’s figure represents several days’ worth of cases. Even so, it was higher than the figures reported on recent Mondays: 796 on July 12 and 649 on July 6. The average is higher than the one-day figure for any day last week except Monday.

Only three deaths occurred in that three-day period. There are 40 ongoing outbreaks in long-term care facilities.

Dr. Thomas Dobbs, Mississippi’s State Health Officer, recommends the monoclonal antibody treatment for anyone who has had a positive test result. Early intervention with the antibody treatment may reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalization for people with COVID-19 who are at high risk of developing more serious illness.

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful antigens such as viruses, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sotrovimab is a monoclonal antibody that is specifically directed against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and is designed to block the virus’ attachment and entry into human cells.

King’s Daughters Medical Center offers the monoclonal antibody treatments in their facilities. King’s Daughters, along with Walgreens and Wal-Mart, offer free COVID-19 vaccines. For more information about monoclonal antibody treatments and vaccinations, contact your current physician.