Jackson County Public Health is reporting 12 new COVID-19 cases, as of 12:01 am, August 7, 2020. This update brings the total reported COVID-19 cases in Jackson County to 448. To access additional data on the total COVID-19 cases, visit the Situation in Jackson County, Oregon webpage.
Jackson County Public Health is reporting the county’s second COVID-19 death. The patient was an 80-year-old male who tested positive on July 15 and died August 6 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford. The patient had underlying medical conditions.
Jackson County Public Health is stressing the importance for people to take preventative action and wear a mask, practice physical distancing, wash your hands regularly, frequently disinfect surfaces that or touched often, to help prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19. The more people someone interacts with and for longer periods of time, the great the risk is for contracting and spreading COVID-19. By knowing and understanding the risk of our actions and activities, we can make informed decisions that not only impact our own health but also protect the health of everyone around us.
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
Masks, face shields, or face coverings are currently required statewide for indoor public spaces (for example, grocery stores, pharmacies, public transit, personal services providers, restaurants, bars, retail stores, and more). Face coverings are required in outdoor public spaces when physical distancing is not possible. In addition, face coverings are now required when exercising indoors, plus outdoors when you cannot physically distance. The statewide masking requirements apply to all Oregonians ages five and older.
The science on COVID-19 is growing, and it is clear that masks slow the spread of COVID-19. There is emerging evidence that masks/face coverings protect the wearer from other people by filtering out some virus particles that can cause infection. Wearing a face covering will help protect people around you, including those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and workers who frequently come into close contact with other people (e.g., in stores and restaurants). Wearing a mask/facial covering is an empowering way for each of us to protect our communities, our families, and ourselves.
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
###