MEDFORD, Oregon. Public health officials in Jackson and Josephine held a joint virtual press conference on Monday afternoon to discuss the increase in coronavirus cases in southern Oregon and explain how the two counties are working together.
Josephine County has identified 11 cases in the past week, while Jackson County reported 18 cases.
According to officials, contact tracing for many of the recent Rogue Valley cases has one common culprit: a combination of traveling and socializing without proper precautions. In some cases, people have traveled to the area from higher-risk states and then mixed with local groups, quickly spreading the virus.
Many of the more recent cases have been linked to just two private parties that took place the previous weekend, each with 15 to 30 participants. Follow-up of contacts related to those parts is still ongoing.
Officials say they are concerned about the upcoming July 4 holiday. People are asked to wear masks properly, wash their hands diligently, know who is present for possible contact tracing, and people bring their own food and drinks.
Dr. Jim Shames, Jackson County Health Officer, said he does not advise any social gatherings, especially if proper precautions are not followed.
Both counties anticipate a continued increase in cases. In recent weeks, new cases have leaned toward the younger population and there have been fewer hospitalizations, but that is likely to change. If the cases continue to spread, Dr. Shames said, there is more change that will reach the most vulnerable groups.
Dr. David Candelaria, Josephine County Health Officer, said that the new statewide mask requirement announced by Governor Brown on Monday has merit, and he hopes that people “will adopt new behaviors and not entrench themselves in the old behaviors. ” Dr. Shames agreed, expressing surprise at how few people take face covers seriously.
Authorities said staff from Jackson and Josephine counties meet regularly to share information and help track cases that often span county borders.
Jackson:
Jackson County Public Health reported three new cases Monday, with a total of 109. As of Monday, at least 65 people were considered recovered from the virus.
“People are beginning to resume their daily activities and their social lives,” says Dr. Jim Shames, Jackson County Health Officer. “People go back to work; they attend birthday parties and weddings, go to bars and restaurants with friends and families, resume their religious practices, travel to places with high cases of COVID-19 to see family and friends. “
“It is critical that if you have 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, Jackson County Health Promotion Manager Public Health . “When you have symptoms, you’re likely to be passing the disease on to other people, especially if you’re not wearing a face shield or you’re not wearing it properly.”
KLAMATH:
The Klamath County Public Health Department reported 7 new confirmed cases Sunday, bringing the County’s total to 118. County officials say 52 of those cases had recovered and are no longer active.
“It is vital that members of our community continue to practice all recommended personal actions at work, in public, and in social circles,” the agency said. “It may be easy to feel more secure and protected when you are with family and friends, but we all need to be aware of developing a false sense of security in these settings.”
“Now, more than ever, it is vitally important for everyone to protect themselves and others through personal actions,” Klamath County continued. “It is also important to remember that each action alone does not provide full protection and that all recommendations must be followed to reduce the risk of exposure.”
JOSEPHINE
The Josephine County Public Health Department reported six new positive cases Monday, bringing the county total to 37 cases total. Of the new cases, four are presumptive and two are confirmed.
Public health officials said they were notified of the cases on June 28 and 29 by the official medical record system provided by the Oregon Health Authority.
“Josephine County Public Health is investigating all cases to identify contacts and exposures and to isolate and monitor all relevant people in the cases,” the agency said. “Public Health will communicate with any person suspected of exposure to COVID-19.”
Of the total of 37 cases, 26 people have recovered and one person died of complications related to a COVID-19 infection. The county marked the first death attributed to the virus in southern Oregon on April 11, an 81-year-old man.
LAKE:
Lake County last reported 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
“Keep wearing facial coverage and practice social distancing if you’re in public,” Lake Health District. “Practice washing your hands regularly and disinfecting frequently used items. If you’re sick, stay home.”
CURRY:
Curry County last reported a total of 7 cases, all considered recovered. 627 people have tested negative for the virus.
SISKIYOU:
Siskiyou County officials last reported 27 total confirmed cases in the county. 23 of those cases have since been recovered.
Siskiyou County has evaluated 3,075 people. 2,981 tests have been negative. There are currently 67 tests awaiting results.
Total number of cases (suspected and confirmed) by county for southern Oregon and the Siskiyou County region:
- Jackson: 109 (65 recovered)
- Klamath: 118 (52 recovered)
- Josephine: 37 (26 recovered, 1 death)
- Lake: 6
- Curry: 7 (7 recovered)
- Siskiyou: 27 (23 recovered)
Tune in to NewsWatch 12 at 5:00 and 6:00 pm tonight for the most current Coronavirus numbers and information.
