Jackson County Public Health reports 60 new COVID-19 cases as of 12:01 am on December 10, 2020. Additionally, two cases were removed from the total case count that had a previous reporting date. These updates bring the total reported COVID-19 cases in Jackson County to 4,624. Jackson County reports one new COVID-19 death; this update brings the total COVID-19 deaths to 45.
Jackson County’s 45th COVID-19 death is a 90-year-old female who tested positive on November 30 and died on December 7 at her residence. She 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
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.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19
- 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.
Holiday Gatherings
As cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to increase across the United States and Oregon, the safest way to celebrate the winter holidays is to celebrate at home with the people you live with. Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu.
Celebrating virtually or with members of your own household (who are consistently taking measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19) poses the lowest risk for spread. Your household is anyone who currently lives and shares common spaces in your housing unit (such as your house or apartment). This can include family members, as well as roommates or people who are unrelated to you. People who do not currently live in your housing unit, such as college students who are returning home from school for the holidays, should be considered part of different households. In-person gatherings that bring together family members or friends from other households, including college students returning home, pose varying levels of risk.
The following people should not attend in-person holiday gatherings:
- People with or exposed to COVID-19
Do not host or participate in any in-person gatherings if you or anyone in your household
- Has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not met the criteria for when it is safe to be around others
- Has symptoms of COVID-19
- Is waiting for COVID-19 test results
- May have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
- Is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19
- Do not host or attend gatherings with anyone who has COVID-19 or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
- People at increased risk for severe illness
If you are an older adult or person with certain medical conditions who is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or live or work with someone at increased risk of severe illness, you should avoid in-person gatherings with people who do not live in your household.
- Adults of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
- Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
- Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
- Pregnancy
- Sickle cell disease
- Smoking
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
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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