Jackson County Public Health is reporting 15 new COVID-19 cases, as of 12:01 AM, July 2, 2020. One case previously reported was determined not to be Jackson County resident and has been transferred to the appropriate jurisdiction. Jackson County case count has been adjusted to reflect this. This update brings the total reported COVID-19 cases in Jackson County to 131. To access additional data on the total COVID-19 cases, visit the Situation in Jackson County, Oregon webpage.
Oregonians statewide are now required to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces. The guidance applies to businesses and members of the public visiting indoor public spaces. Jackson County Public Health also recommends that face coverings made from cloth or paper be worn in social settings that consist of people outside the immediate household. Face coverings are not surgical masks or respirators. Currently, surgical masks and N95 respirators are critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders. Masks with valves are not recommended; these types of masks filter air being inhaled, but do not filter air that is exhaled and can project the germs, exposing others. COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. COVID-19 can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. Face coverings can slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus from transmitting it to others. 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). Overall, face coverings worn by others protect you from getting the virus from people carrying the virus.
Wear your Face Covering Correctly:
- Wash your hands before putting on your face covering
- Put it over your nose and mouth and secure is under your chin
- Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
- Make sure you can breathe easily
Fact: We wear face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Face coverings help us keep our respiratory droplets to ourselves, which means people who wear them prevent spreading the virus to others. There are many types of face coverings, scarves, bandanas, and homemade coverings with loops that go over the ears
Fact: Face coverings don’t cause dangerous carbon dioxide to build up.
Face coverings don’t cause enough carbon dioxide build-up to cause ill effects in otherwise healthy people. In fact, masks have a tighter seal than face coverings and farm workers, custodial staff, and hospital employees all wear them to stay safe in their workplaces.
Fact: Face coverings do not cause the virus to “reactivate.”
Once you have a viral infection, wearing a face covering does not make it worse or make it last longer. It does, however, help you keep from spreading or passing it on it to others.
Face coverings are an additional step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with every day preventive actions and social distancing in public and social settings. COVID-19 cases and deaths have been reported in all 50 states, and the situation is continuously changing. Because travel increases your chances of getting infected and spreading COVID-19, staying close to home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick, especially during the 4th of July holiday weekend. It is recommended that everyone practices physical distancing (stay six feet away from people who are not in your household), practice good hand hygiene and frequently disinfect surfaces that or touched often. It is also important to stay home if you are sick. “It is critical that if you are experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms or have a pending COVID-19 test, that you do not attend social gatherings, go to work, or travel,” says Tanya Phillips, Health Promotion Manager for Jackson County Public Health. Symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, or vomiting, diarrhea.
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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