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MEDFORD, Oregon – Jackson County Public Health confirmed on Monday it is investigating several outbreaks of the coronavirus at local long-term care facilities, apparently spurred by the growing spread of private social gatherings – inevitably leading to infection in places where people vulnerable to the virus live.
The agency says it is currently investigating nine outbreaks at separate facilities. The one specifically identified by officials on Monday was Avamere Three Fountains, where testing revealed a total of 54 cases, including eight staff and 46 residents. One of the recent deaths from COVID-19 in Jackson County was a resident of Avamere, Jackson County Public Health said.
Small social gatherings with family and friends are still the main driver of the increased spread, and public health officials say these gatherings “play a significant role” in the virus reaching long-term care facilities.
“The increase in outbreaks in long-term care facilities is a serious concern; these are our most vulnerable populations in these establishments. We need to think about how our actions outside of work can have serious consequences for other people, especially when it’s your job to take care of vulnerable populations, ”said Dr Jim Shames, Head of Jackson County Health.
Avamere’s investigation began on November 3, and Jackson County Public Health said Avamere had cooperated with the agency in its contact tracing efforts.
“In adults, the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 increases with age,” the agency said. “For example, people in their 50s have a higher risk of serious illness than people in their 40s. Likewise, people in their 60s and 60s are, in general, at greater risk of serious illness than people in You are in your 50s. Serious illness from COVID-19 affects people 85 years of age or older. There are also other factors that can increase your risk of serious illness, such as the underlying medical conditions. “
Monday’s Jackson County report included a somewhat moderate, but still high, count of 41 new cases, bringing the county’s total since the start of the pandemic to 2,382. At least 548 cases are still considered active infections and hospitalizations have risen to 156 since March.
Governor Kate Brown on Friday announced a two-week “hiatus” in five Oregon counties, including Jackson County, in a bid to curb the spread of the virus without taking the most drastic step of rolling back phases of the virus. reopening. This break includes the following steps starting Wednesday:
- Urge all businesses to mandate work from home whenever possible.
- Interrupt visits to long-term care facilities that take place indoors to protect staff and residents.
- Reduction of the restaurant’s maximum capacity to 50 people (including customers and staff) for indoor dining, with a maximum size of six groups. Continue to encourage outdoor and take-out meals.
- Reduced the maximum capacity of other indoor activities to 50 people (includes gyms, fitness organizations / studios, bowling alleys, ice rinks, indoor sports, swimming pools and museums).
- Limit social gatherings to your household, or no more than six people if the gathering includes people outside your household, reduce the frequency of these social gatherings (significantly over a two week period) and keep the same six people in your social circle gathering.
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