Two More COVID-19 Cases in County
Jackson County and Jackson County Hospital District officials reported last week that two more residents of Jackson County tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. In total, there have now been three confirmed cases of the virus within the county. Two of the patients have fully recovered, leaving only one active case currently.
“It was determined that Patient Two contracted COVID-19 through community spread in our county and Patient Three contracted the virus by travel outside the county. DSHS has concluded that neither patient had exposure to the general public; however, if there was direct contact with either patient, those persons will be contacted directly,” said Jackson County Hospital CEO, Bill Jones.
To date, Jackson County Hospital District has tested 96 residents for the coronavirus. Hospital officials are still waiting for the results on 16 tests. Epidemiology investigators and public health staff are continuing investigations, surveillance, and interviews with this patients. Through this process, they will identify individuals who potentially are associated with this case and those that are at possible risk of contact, exposure, or infection will be contacted for further case investigation.
The term ‘community spread’ has caused some confusion among residents, and Jackson County Judge Jill Sklar explained what the term actually means.
“The epidemiological investigation is to determine where the patient contracted the virus and who the patient may have given the virus to after they contracted it. So the first question is where did the patient get the virus? If it is determined that the person did not have direct contact with someone that was known to be positive or they did not from travel outside the county to an area that they know has the virus, they will label the means by which they contracted the virus as ‘community spread.’ “To put it simply, we do not know where this patient got the virus, but we know it had to be somewhere in the community.
“In determining who the patient may have given the virus to, they determine when the patient was contagious and who they may have been in contact with during that time. The epidemiologist will make contact directly with those that they know were exposed to the patient. If they determine that the patient went out in the community to a public place when they were contagious, and they cannot identify everyone who was at the public place, the investigators will then let the public know when and where that exposure occurred. In the case of all three patients the investigators do not believe the patients were ever in a public place after they were considered contagious.
“The most important thing to keep in mind with all this confusing terminology,” added Judge Sklar, “is that if the investigators have a case and they know you were in direct contact with that patient, they will contact you. If they know that there is a public place that a contagious person visited, they will release the time and place for the public to know. That means it is here in the community and someone is spreading it. As for the ones who have contracted the virus, once they became contagious, they did not go back out into the community.”
Gov. Greg Abbot told Texans last week to stay at home for the next month unless they are taking part in essential services, announcing a heightened statewide standard to stem the spread of COVID-19. He also announced schools would remain closed until at least May 4.
Jackson County Hospital District, the County, and DSHS will continue to monitor COVID-19 in the county to prepare for the possibility of more cases. “It is important to note,” added Jones, “that the virus is in the Jackson County community and everyone must do their part to slow the spread.”
All residents are urged to follow all published guidance by the CDC. This includes avoiding contact with one another. If you are over 60 or have an underlying health issue, this is crucial. If anyone is experiencing flu-like systems or running a temperature above 100.3, that person should stay home and call their healthcare provider.
“We are asking everyone to comply with Governor Greg Abbott’s orders to stay at home,” said Judge Sklar. “That order is from the Governor, not from the county. As a county, we’ve asked businesses in town to only allow one person per household inside at a time. There will be some exceptions to this, but it something the businesses all need to practice. Everyone needs to do their part to limit exposure, not only to their families, but to the workers at the business as well.
“Jackson County is in a critical state right now,” she added. “We will not be able to avoid a mass spread of this virus if our residents do not take this seriously. Everyone must follow the Governor’s orders and remain at home unless they are providing or obtaining an essential service.”