Jackson County Public Health reports 106 new COVID-19 cases as of 12:01 am on December 8, 2020. This update brings the total reported COVID-19 cases in Jackson County to 4,514. Additionally, Jackson County reports three new COVID-19 deaths; this update brings the total COVID-19 deaths to 44.
Jackson County’s 42nd COVID-19 death is a 71-year-old female who tested positive on November 16 and died on December 5 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass, OR. The patient had underlying conditions.
Jackson County’s 43rd COVID-19 death is a 73-year-old male who tested positive on November 25 and died on December 5 at Providence Medford Medical Center. The patient had underlying conditions.
Jackson County’s 44th COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old male who tested positive on November 30 and died on December 6 at Providence Medford Medical Center. The patient had underlying conditions.
For additional information, visit the Jackson County COVID-19 Data Dashboard at Situation in Jackson County, Oregon webpage. The Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard website does publish Jackson County COVID-19 data.
How to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Jackson County Public Health understands that most people are burnt out from hearing about COVID-19 and using the strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But, it remains essential to continue to use multiple non-pharmaceutical strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “We understand that communities are exhausted from dealing with this, but we cannot let our guards down yet,” states Dr. Jim Shames, Jackson County Health Officer. According to the Centers for Disease Control, no single strategy can control the pandemic; instead, a multipronged approach using all available evidence-based strategies at the individual and community levels can break transmission chains and address high levels of community transmission; reduce related illnesses, long-term sequelae, and deaths; and mitigate the pandemic’s economic impact.1
Currently, COVID-19 activity remains widespread in Jackson County, and the county is under the Extreme Risk Level. Jackson County Public Health reported 559 new cases last week (November 29 – November 5). This is a new record high for the number of new cases reported during a week in Jackson County.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, everyone should take the following steps:
- Cover your mouth and nose with a mask
- Avoid close contact and keep 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who do not live in your household. The fewer people you are around, the better.
- Wash your hands often
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched frequently with common EPA registered household disinfectants
- Monitor your health, be alert for symptoms
- Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow, and do not spit
- Jackson County is under the Extreme Risk level, and disease activity is widespread in the county. Please follow the guidance under the Extreme Risk; following the guidance will help reduce community spread of COVID-19. Information can be found on the OHA website.
If you Test Positive for COVID-19 or are a Close Contact with someone who has COVID-19
Due to the surge in cases and depending on when test results are reported to the local public health authority, cases and close contacts may not hear from local health departments in a timely fashion. If a case is reluctant to name their contacts during the interview process or refuse to answer calls from public health departments. In that case, contact tracers will not be able to notify close contacts of cases.
To help address some of these obstacles, Jackson County Public Health provides guidance on the COVID-19 page to assist people with what they need to do if they test positive or are a close contact. That information is at https://jacksoncountyor.org/hhs/COVID-19.
For more information:
References.
- Honein MA, Christie A, Rose DA, et al. Summary of Guidance for Public Health Strategies to Address High Levels of Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and Related Deaths, December 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 4 December 2020. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6949e2
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