MEDFORD, Ore. Jackson County Public Health officials on Wednesday reported a new record high for coronavirus cases, in addition to an investigation into cases involving a workplace outbreak at Amy’s Kitchen in White City.
Jackson County Public Health reported 24 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total of the county to 618 confirmed and presumptive cases since the beginning of the pandemic. Nearly 200 of those cases are considered “actively infectious.”
“Jackson County Public Health reports an increase in COVID-19 cases in Jackson County,” the agency said. In the week of August 8, 2020, Jackson County reported 93 new cases, which is a case rate of 42 cases per 100,000, and an average of 13.3 cases per day. This was the most cases reported in a week since the start of the pandemic. . “
This week, officials said, Jackson County continued to see a rise in COVID-19 cases, with a three-day average of 20.3 cases per day. Many of these cases have been traced back to social gatherings among family and friends – including people from the same household, extended families, and friends.
“People assume that because they are at home, with family and friends, that they are safe, that it is a safe environment, therefore they are not at risk for COVID-19 assignment,” said Dr. Jim Shames, Jackson County Health Officer.
The agency also said it is officially investigating an 18-case workplace outbreak linked to Amy’s Kitchen in White City, which includes domestic members and other close contacts of employees.
Although the company confirmed last week that it had seen multiple cases among employees since the start of the pandemic, both the company and public health data indicated that they did not consider it a work outbreak at the time. However, Jackson County Public Health said on Wednesday that an investigation into outbreaks began on July 28 and is ongoing.
It was not immediately clear why the outbreak did not appear on previous Oregon Health Authority weekly reports reporting workplace outbreaks.
“The Jackson County Public Health survey has found that the prevalence is most prevalent outside of the workplace setting in social gatherings among employees, family and friends,” the agency said. “Amy’s Kitchen has been a good partner in the research process and has continued to implement measures that will reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace setting.”
In a statement to NewsWatch 12 on Wednesday, Amy’s Kitchen spokeswoman Jen Tucci noted that the cases related to employees at the White City processing plant have not yet been found to spread within the plant itself.
“Rising case counts within the state and Jackson County have inevitably resulted in some positive cases among our employees, most being traces of domestic transportation and social gatherings, but we are doing everything we can to protect everyone at work and promote vigilance in and outside the plant, “Tucci said.
According to Jackson County demographic data, the spread of the virus continues to grow among younger groups, with the vast majority of cases occurring among people under 50.
