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The number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Mississippi and Adams County but we are now living under more lenient statewide orders.

Gov. Tate Reeves’ Safer at Home order went into effect at 8 a.m. Monday and relaxed some of the prior restrictions included in his earlier Shelter in Place order that expired Monday morning.

The Safer at Home order is by no means a lifting of restrictions and should not be considered as such.

What it does is lift some restrictions on some businesses that must still follow social distancing and other protocols.

What is still included in the Safer at Home order is a strong urging for all Mississippians to stay at home unless they have to leave for essential travel, such as caring for someone in the vulnerable population, getting food or necessary supplies and going to work.

People in the vulnerable population are instructed to continue sheltering in place to protect their health. This includes all elderly individuals (age 65 or older per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines) and individuals with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma and those whose immune systems are compromised as such by chemotherapy for cancer or any other condition requiring such therapy.

People also are encouraged to maintain 6-feet space between themselves and other people and not to meet in groups of 10 or more people.

The list of limitations goes on, but the point is, we are not out of the woods yet.

Safer at Home means just what it says.

Stay at home as much as possible and stay safe.