[Medford, Oregon]— May 18, 2020, Jackson County Public Health has zero confirmed COVID-19 cases and one presumptive COVID-19 case to announce. This brings the total to 51 cases in Jackson County. The total case count includes cases confirmed by diagnostic testing and presumptive cases. Presumptive cases are those without a positive test, who present COVID-19-like symptoms and had close contact with a confirmed case.
At this time, there are no fatalities from COVID-19 reported in Jackson County. To access additional data on the total COVID-19 cases, visit the Situation in Jackson County, Oregon webpage.
Jackson County Public Health is recommending that people with mild symptoms of COVID-19 get tested. “Our messaging on testing has changed; we don’t want people to stay home and just recover. We want people with mild symptoms to be tested,” says Dr. Jim Shames, Jackson County Health Officer.
The testing capacity has increased in Jackson County; therefore, if anyone develops mild symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell), should be tested for COVID-19.
If you have COVID-19-like symptoms follow the steps below:
- Stay home and separate yourself from other people in your home. This is known as home isolation. Do not go out in public if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19. It is important not to spread this illness to other people.
- Call your medical provider or a medical clinic that is testing for COVID-19. Let them know you have COVID-19-like symptoms and ask to be tested for COVID-19. Your medical provider may want to see you in person, make sure to wear a mask to your appointment. Be sure to access medical care if you begin to feel worse, or if it is an emergency.
- Get tested. People with mild symptoms of COVID-19 should be tested to see if they have the virus. People can go through their medical provider or contact one of the health centers that is testing for COVID-19.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away and wash your hands immediately. If you do not have tissues, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.
- Wash your hands often. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Wear a mask. When you leave your home to access medical care and when you go to get tested.
Current health centers or health systems providing testing in Jackson County are:
If you need medical care, including an appointment to stay up-to-date on your vaccines, it is important that you do not hesitate to access medical care, especially if it is an emergency. If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 and seek medical attention immediately.
Testing and treatment for COVID-19 is available to all people, regardless of documentation status.
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
Jackson County Health and Human Services: http://jacksoncountyor.org/hhs/COVID-19
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