Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves issued two executive orders on March 16, 2020, to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive Order No. 1458 directs all state entities to review and determine which state employees perform essential duties required for core functioning during the emergency and to determine what essential employees could work from home. The Governor encouraged other businesses in Mississippi to do the same. The Order also directs school districts to begin working with the Mississippi Department of Education to develop distance learning protocols, and it requires school districts to continue offering free or reduced-cost lunches to eligible students. Finally, the Order allows (but does not require) public employers to provide paid leave to state or local employees who miss work because of COVID-19. Governor Reeves is hopeful that the legislature will take measures to further protect Mississippians in this trying time.

Executive Order No. 1459 activates the Mississippi National Guard to support mobile testing units and at the testing locations by the Mississippi State Department of Health and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Governor Reeves intends to implement additional mobile testing sites throughout Mississippi.