JACKSON COUNTY, MI – In the past month, Jackson County Health Department (JCHD) has seen an increase in cases of COVID-19. As of Wednesday, October 21, JCHD has reported 1565 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since March 2020. Daily new case rates in October are almost double those recorded in September and 4 times greater than in August. Hospitalization rates have also increased since the start of October compared to previous months.
The graph below shows confirmed cases in Jackson County from March to October showing how recent daily case counts are surpassing what was recorded in the spring.
On 10/20/20 Henry Ford Allegiance Health posted the following graph showing the recent rise in COVID-19 inpatient numbers.
As we continue into the fall season, and our days and nights get colder, many of us will find ourselves spending more time indoors than outdoors. It is important that we continue to help keep ourselves, our families, and our communities safe and healthy. Let us do our part to help reduce the risk of getting or spreading both COVID-19 and flu this season:
· Stay at home when you are sick and do your best to keep yourself away from other members of your household. Please do not go to school, work, or events/social gatherings if you are sick. Arrange for groceries and medicine to be delivered to your house when you are sick.
· We are asking that if you find out that you are positive for COVID-19, please try to call your close contacts as soon as possible to let them know. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (2 days) before the person has symptoms or tests positive. Positive individuals should follow home isolation guidelines and close contacts should follow quarantine guidelines. By choosing to isolate or quarantine, you are protecting the health of others in the community.
· About 40% of people are asymptomatic (do not have symptoms) but are still capable of spreading the virus. Therefore, it is important for everyone to follow safety protocols as much as possible.
· Close contacts of confirmed and probable cases might be notified through the Trace Force system which is a statewide system that partners with local health departments. This might take up to a couple of days; therefore, if you are told by a family member, friend, co-worker or employer that you may be a close contact, please start quarantining right away, and do not wait for a phone call. Once you receive a phone call, further instructions will be given.
· If you receive a phone call from local or state health department staff or volunteers, we ask that you answer the phone and provide as much information as possible. It is important for us to get information quickly and accurately to reduce the risk of others becoming infected.
· Refrain from hosting or attending gatherings that do not follow proper spatial distancing, especially if they do not comply with the current epidemic orders.
· Wear a face covering or mask when you are in an indoor public place or in crowded outdoor areas. Wearing a face covering can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 by about 70%.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least twenty seconds.
· Keep a physical distance of 6 feet or more when you are inside or outside.
· Cover coughs and sneezes; avoid touching your face.
· Clean/disinfect all “high touch” surfaces every day with household cleaning spray or wipes.
· Everyone, ages 6 months and above, should get a flu shot this year. It is possible that both COVID-19 and the seasonal flu could be circulating at the same time.
· If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. An automated self-checker is also available to help you make decisions and seek appropriate medical care. Also, testing locations can be found by visiting www.michigan.gov/coronavirustest or by calling 211.
· Get your information from credible sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, or your local health department.
You can contact the Jackson County Health Department with questions at (517)788-4420, option 9, and leave a message. Call 911 if there is an emergency. For COVID-19 testing in Jackson County, you can contact the Henry Ford COVID-19 Patient Hotline at (517)205-6100, or the Center for Family Health Hotline at (517)748-5363. Please note, receiving a negative COVID-19 test after an exposure does not mean that you will not develop symptoms or test positive at a future time within your 14-day period. Please visit www.mijackson.org/hd for our COVID-19 information page to find information on the spread of COVID-19 throughout Jackson County. For resources on how to stay safe during the pandemic, visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus and CDC.gov/coronavirus.
