Over 4,000 students were quarantined in Mississippi as the school year kicks off during a COVID-19 surge

• More than 4,400 Mississippi students were quarantined after being exposed to COVID-19 in early August.
• Nearly 800 students have tested positive, according to state data.
• The school year will soon begin in the state, which is facing a surge of COVID-19 as the Delta variant spreads.

More than 4,400 Mississippi students were quarantining after being exposed to COVID-19, just as the school year kicks off, according to state data.

Mississippi's state health department found a total of 4,435 students were quarantined from August 2 to August 6, according to data tracking exposure and positive cases among students and staff.

The health department found that over 380 teachers were also quarantining, with nearly 800 students and 300 teachers confirmed to test positive for COVID-19.

The report was released on Tuesday and first reported on by the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger.

Mississippi is one of the many southern states facing a COVID-19 surge currently, as the highly transmissible Delta variant spreads - largely among unvaccinated people.

Despite the surging cases - which is threatening to cause the state's hospital system to fail - Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Thursday he won't impose new COVID-19 restrictions.

"There will be no lockdowns and there will be no statewide mandates," he said on Twitter.