Mississippi's governor says people in the state are less scared of COVID-19 because they 'believe in eternal life'

• Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said people in the state are "less scared" of COVID-19.
• "When you believe that living on this earth is but a blip on the screen, then you don't have to be so scared of things," he said.
• Health services are struggling under a wave of new infections in the state.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, in remarks Saturday, said that people in the state were "less scared" of COVID-19 because they believe in "eternal life," as new infections reach record levels and hospitalizations spike.

Reeves made the remarks to a gathering of state Republicans at a fundraiser last Thursday in Eads, $4

"I'm often asked by some of my friends on the other side of the aisle about COVID … and why does it seem like folks in Mississippi and maybe in the Mid-South are a little less scared, shall we say," Reeves said.

"When you believe in eternal life - when you believe that living on this earth is but a blip on the screen, then you don't have to be so scared of things," he said.

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Reeves went on to say, "God also tells us to take necessary precautions. And we all have opportunities and abilities to do that and we should all do that. I encourage everyone to do so."

Mississippi has recorded more new COVID-19 cases per capita than any other state, with around 127 new cases per 100,000, according to $4

The wave of infections in Mississippi has put state health services at breaking point, with 93% of the state's ICU beds in use and 63% occupied by COVID-19 patients, $4

The state also has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country, with about 37% of the population fully vaccinated, according to data $4

Reeves, throughout the pandemic, has criticized measures to slow the spread of the disease introduced by public health officials and has declined to issue a mask mandate at schools, where the disease is spreading rapidly.

In July, after the CDC issued new guidance for those fully vaccinated to wear a mask indoors to help reduce transmission, Reeves told supporters the measure was part of a political plot.

"It reeks of political panic so as to appear they are in control," Reeves told supporters, $4