Jackson County Public Health is reporting 23 new COVID-19 cases as of 12:01 am on August 24, 2020. This update brings the total reported COVID-19 cases in Jackson County to 710. To access additional data on the total COVID-19 cases, visit the Situation in Jackson County, Oregon webpage, or the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard website.
Know Your Risk and Take Action
Jackson County is on the Governor’s Watch List due to an increase in sporadic cases, indicating community spread. Jackson County Public Health continues to stress the importance that everyone in Jackson County needs to take preventative action and wear a facial covering, practice physical distancing, wash your hands regularly, frequently disinfect surfaces that or touched often. These actions, taken by everyone, will slow the spread of COVID-19 in Jackson County and help Jackson County to be removed from the Governor’s Watch List. These actions will also help position Jackson County to create safer environments for students and teachers to return to the classroom this fall.
Jackson County Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control do not recommend using a mask or face covering that has an exhalation valve or vent. Masks/facial coverings with one-way valves or vents allow air to be exhaled through a hole in the material, which can result in expelled respiratory droplets that can reach others.
The more people a person interacts with and for extended amounts of time increases a person’s risk for contracting and spreading COVID-19. This includes attending and hosting social gatherings with family, extended family, and friends.
Activities that take place outdoors that allow for enough room to maintain physical distancing and involve fewer people are lower risk activities compared to activities that take place indoors that do not allow for physical distancing and involve more people. Below are some extra tips for enjoying the summer weather:
- Stay home if you’re sick, have a pending COVID-19 test, or if you have an underlying medical condition that puts you at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
- If you host a gathering, provide hand sanitizer or give people easy access to places where they can frequently wash their hands.
- Adjust your food offerings to avoid sharing utensils and offer individual servings. Don’t share drinks.
- During and afterward, thoroughly clean all frequently touched areas your guest had access to.
- Wear a face covering if you cannot maintain 6 feet of physical distance.
Overall, people in Oregon should follow the three W’s:
- WEAR a face covering
- WATCH your distance
- WASH your hands
Wear your Face Covering Correctly:
- Wash your hands before putting on your face covering
- Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
- Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
- Make sure you can breathe easily
For more information:
The public can call 211-information with general questions
OHA Emerging Respiratory Disease page: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus
CDC COVID-19 page: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
CDC Travel within the US: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-in-the-us.html
Jackson County Health and Human Services: http://jacksoncountyor.org/hhs/COVID-19
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