JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi is reporting a dozen more deaths from COVID-19 as the state’s total cases approach 4,000.

The state Department of Health reported the new numbers Saturday, bringing the total number of deaths in Mississippi to 152.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Friday that he is extending his statewide stay-at-home order by one week to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The order has been in place since the evening of April 3, and it originally was set to expire Monday morning. The extension expires April 27.

Reeves said that Mississippi is in the “worst, hardest” part of the curve of virus cases.

“I know we cannot stay in this position for much longer, but we are still in the eye of the storm,” Reeves said.

He said he will allow lakes and beaches to open starting Monday, but people will not be allowed to go in large groups.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the highly contagious virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal.

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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.

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