April 10, 2020
Mayor Errick D. Simmons Holds Meeting with
Religious and Faith-Based Leaders

   The legislative intent and reasoning behind the executive order were to save lives. Several factors were fully discussed by the Greenville City Council including, but not limited to:
  • the number of calls received by residents, church members, and family members of church members of churches who were violating the ten (10) people CDC rule and having in person service before and after local, state, and federal mandates;
  • the Governor’s Shelter In Place Order;
  • the CDC guidelines;
  • the Mississippi Department of Health guidelines;
  • the police force and lack thereof necessary to enforce local, state, and federal mandates the percentage of cases linked to church gatherings;
  • health and other life threatening conditions facing Greenville residents;
  • poverty rate;
  • the amount and lack thereof of medical supplies;
  • the number of cases in Greenville;
  • the number of deaths in Greenville;
  • the amount of hospital and ICU Coronavirus beds available;
  • the peak date in which PPE and medical supplies will run out

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and the C.A.R.E.S. Act were also discussed informing pastors that churches and faith-based organizations are eligible to apply and salaries of pastors can be paid.
After much discussion and remarks, nearly all attendees supported the Executive Order Regarding Church Services and fully understood that the Mayor and Greenville City Council entered said Order for the safety and protection of life. 
EXECUTIVE ORDER REGARDING
CHURCH SERVICES
ORDER: Mandating, effective immediately, that in an effort to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), all church buildings will be closed for in person and drive in church services, until the State of Mississippi’s “Shelter In Place” Executive Order No. 1466 is lifted by Governor Tate Reeves. Churches are strongly encouraged to hold services via Facebook Live, Zoom, Free Conference Call, and any and all other electronic, social media, streaming, and telephonic platforms available for the safety and protection of life. Pastors, musicians, and media and production teams are allowed in the church buildings, so long as, there are no more than ten (10) people in accordance to CDC guidelines. Further, in compliance with the Mississippi Department of Health guideline stating, “Because of recent COVID-19 cases specifically linked to church gatherings, it is vital that Mississippians not attend in-person church services at any church or other type of facility,” the Greenville City Council enters this Order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 linked to church gatherings and to protect the most vulnerable suffering with heath conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart conditions, and other life-threatening conditions in the community.

This Order further supports the emergency declared by Proclamation of the Greenville City Council on March 17, 2020 stating that conditions of extreme peril have arisen within the city caused by COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Adopted by the Greenville City Council on April 7, 2020
Churches Can:
  • Stream Facebook Live
  • Zoom
  • Conference Call
  • Have any and all other social media, streaming, and telephonic platforms

(Pastors, musicians, and production/media teams are allowed in church buildings, as long as there is less than 10)
Churches Cannot:
  • Have In-person Church Services
  • Have Drive-in Church Services



(Church buildings are closed to general membership)

Greenville Citywide Curfew
Time: 10 p.m.- 5 a.m.
(daily)
Law Enforcement will enforce all Executive Orders and violators will be prosecuted.
48 Confirmed Cases in Washington County, MS
There are now 2 confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 in Greenville MS.
There are now 2 confirmed LTC cases due to COVID-19 in Greenville, MS.
Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens
As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hearty Helpings Food Pantry, St. Vincent De Paul, and the Ephesus has seen a rapid increase in the number of people they are servicing.
Hearty Helpings Updated Distribution Schedule

  • Acquiring 24,000 pounds of food per month from the MS Food Network and services from Extra Table
  • Dispersing 150-200 bags of groceries per day
  • Serving at least 100 hot meals per day
  • Delivering 40-60 to elderly citizens per day
  • Received the Rapid Response Mini Grant from the Community Foundation of Washington County
St. Vincent De Paul
Service Updates
  • Serving at least 100-150 food boxes per week
  • Receives food services from the MS Food Network and Extra Table to aid with the surplus of residents in need
  • Received the Rapid Response Mini Grant from the Community Foundation of Washington County
Ephesus SDA Church
  • Serving approximately 200 families per week with food boxes
What You Need to Know
Coronavirus Testing Sites
Delta Regional
Medical Center

662-725-6000
Dr. Neal Suares Family
Medical Clinic

662-334-8557
Summary of the $2 Trillion Emergency Package
  • Support for Cities
  • Transportation
  • Connectivity
  • Rural Development
  • Nutrition and Financial Assistance
  • Health and Human Services
  • Education and Early Childhood
  • Labor
  • Environment
  • Commerce
  • Small Business Administration
  • Housing and Community Development
  • Law Enforcement & Public Safety
  • Disaster Assistance
Paycheck Protection Program
for Small Businesses

 
Who can apply?
  • This program is for any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by coronavirus/COVID-19.
  • Businesses in certain industries may have more than 500 employees if they meet the SBA’s size standards for those industries.
  • Small businesses in the hospitality and food industry with more than one location could also be eligible if their individual locations employ less than 500 workers
  • Churches and Faith-Based Organizations can apply

In addition to the Paycheck Protection Program, the SBA has a number of other resources available to affected Small Businesses, such as an Economic Injury Loan which now includes an advance of up to $10,000. Also, the SBA has also proactively offered debt relief for existing SBA loans. 
Meals for Seniors, Veterans, Homeless,
and Those in Need

Hearty Helpings Food Pantry will reopen on Monday, March 23, 2020. Groceries will be given out from 12p.m. to 3p.m. Carryout meals will be provided Monday-Thursday from 4 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
St. Vincent De Paul opens every Wednesday from 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
First Baptist Church will host curbside grab and go lunches for school aged youth each Tuesday and Thursday from 12 p.m.-1p.m. beginning March 24, 2020.
ALL elderly congregate meal sites in Bolivar, Humphreys, Issaquena, Sharkey, Sunflower, and Washington Counties are closed and frozen meals are now being delivered to homes. Please contact the aging division of your county’s community action agency for more information.
Home delivered meals, homemaker services, and transportation services are still being provided with modifications. All Congregate sites, senior centers, and the adult day care center will be closed for 8 weeks.
City of Greenville | greenvillems.org