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With COVID-19 numbers continuing to increase daily, it is clear we have not yet reached the peak, much less the plateau, of this pandemic in the nation, state or the Miss-Lou.

Last week, the Natchez Mayor and Board of Aldermen further postponed the municipal election cycle from May to June due to concerns that we still would not be out of the woods on the spread of COVID-19.

The dates for the election had originally been postponed from April 7 to May 12 for the primary elections but are now pushed back to June 2 for the primary, June 23 for the run-off (if needed) and July 14 for the general election with new officials being sworn in on July 24.

That is probably a much better bet for the health and safety of our community.

In addition, Gov. Tate Reeves on Friday extended his statewide shelter-in-place order that was set to expire April 20 another week to April 27.

We are now into the third or fourth week of stay-at-home orders, depending on which order you consider and it appears the efforts are helping to keep spread of the virus in check.

As bad as the numbers are, it could be worse if we were not staying at home and social distancing.

Still, however, the numbers continue to rise so now is not the time to give up, everyone from the governor to Miss-Lou mayors and the Adams County coroner agree.

We know people are getting antsy and miss going out and socializing and visiting, but we need to stick with the program for at least another week and check the weather.

Until then, shelter-in-place and stay safe.