MEDFORD, Oregon. The Jackson County Public Health Department reported Wednesday the first death of a county resident due to a coronavirus.
According to the agency, the patient was a 65-year-old man who tested positive on June 29. He died on July 25 at Providence Portland Medical Center.
Jackson County confirmed that the man had underlying health problems.
“With heavy hearts we announce this fatality,” said Dr. Jim Shames, Jackson County Health Officer. “We offer our sincerest condolences to this individual’s family and friends.”
Southern Oregon has had relatively few deaths attributed to the virus, with the only previous cases in Josephine and Klamath counties. Josephine County officials marked the first death of COVID-19 in the region, an 81-year-old man, on April 10. On June 30, Klamath County officials said a 70-year-old woman died of the virus.
Jackson County also reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the county’s total to 325. At least 85 of those cases are considered “active infectious.”
Hospitalizations in Jackson County have also increased precipitously in recent weeks, with at least 28 recorded since the start of the pandemic. As of July 1, there were only 10 registered hospitalizations. Almost all of these cases are among adults 50 and older.
The Oregon Health Authority reported a record 14 deaths Tuesday, the highest count in a single day since the pandemic began. Those latest deaths brought the state’s total to 303.
Jackson County said the death of the local man is considered Oregon’s 309th death attributed to the coronavirus.
This is a developing story and will be updated in more detail as they arise.
