Mississippi has hit a record no one wanted to see — 10,000 deaths related to COVID-19.

Thirty-four new deaths were reported to the Mississippi State Department of Health over the weekend — from Aug. 9-Oct. 21 — elevating the state’s fatality total to 10,024. MSDH also reported 555 new positive test results for Oct. 22-24, bringing the state’s total to 501,652 cases of the coronavirus.

Lincoln County reported three new cases over the weekend. The county has had 5,439 positive test results and 135 deaths since the onset of the pandemic.

The average number of deaths in Mississippi for 2017-2019 were 32,526 annually.

Mississippi retains the No. 1 position in highest death rate — 335 deaths per 100,000 people. The next highest states are New Jersey, Alabama and Louisiana — with 311-313 each. The lowest death rates are in Vermont, 56 per 100,000, and Hawaii, with 62 deaths per 100,000.