OXFORD, Miss. —
All county COVID-19 restrictions that were first implemented in Mississippi approximately a
year ago will be lifted tonight at 5 p.m., per Governor Tate Reeves’ new Executive Order 1549.
“We are not going to continue to use the heavy hand of government when it is no longer justified
by the reality we see around us,” said Governor Reeves, in an address to the state on Tuesday.
In Oxford, opinions on the new executive order have been varied.
“I think it’s a little too early,” said Tom Bullion, who is an Oxford resident. “It’s happened
before and we had a big rebound. I hate to see that happen again once we’re getting so close to
having everybody protected.”
Terry Levy, an Oxford Local who is over 65 and fully vaccinated, welcomed Governor Reeves’
new executive order.
“I’m for it,” Levy said. “I’ll still probably wear my mask in some places and use common sense,
but I think it will be fine.”
On the UM campus, the majority of classes will remain remote until the University’s return to
fully in-person classes in the Fall semester.
UM students’ reactions to the new executive order have also been mixed, reflecting that of the
greater Oxford community.
“It’s time for everything to start getting back to normal, because at some point we have to,” said
UM sophomore Aubrey Hollingsworth. “So I’m glad we finally took that first step.”
For other students, some sense of hesitation still remains.
“I feel like if we held this out for two or three more months then we could get leadway with it,”
said Aniston McClellan, a junior at UM. “But for right now I’m kind of scared as far as public
places go at full capacity.”
As of March 3rd, less than one percent of Mississippians have received both doses of the
vaccine.
In his executive order address, Governor Reeves stated that precautions should still be taken in
public spaces where social distancing cannot be enforced.
“If businesses or individuals decide to take additional precautions, they are absolutely within
their rights,” he said. “In fact, it may be smart.”
Madeleine Lowe 