Health

(March 17, 2020 5:24 PM) Beginning March 18, 2020 until March 31, 2020, several Jackson County buildings will be closed to the public. However, county provided services will continue. We encourage business to be conducted via online, phone, email and if necessary, scheduled appointments. This effort is being taken to mitigate the transmission and risks relating to COVID-19. We encourage you to visit the various County Offices and Departments on our website at www.mijackson.org. Please see the list at the end of this release for contact information for specific buildings/departments affected by this closure. Additionally, non-essential meetings in county spaces are suspended. Please follow-up with meeting organizers to determine meeting details as meetings may be continued in an online/telephone format. Many services provided by the affected departments can be accomplished online, by phone, or email. Departments will remain staffed during regular business hours. Our goal is to make these necessary changes with the least amount of disruption to services. Please note: the Jackson County Board of Commissioners will be holding their regularly scheduled March 17, 2020 meeting at 7 p.m. All Board of Commissioner meetings are available on YouTube and via live stream. Live streaming is available at: https://www.mijackson.org/822/MyJacksonStream. Airport…

(March 17, 2020 5:09 PM) On Tuesday, March 17, the Michigan Department of Corrections was notified that an employee at the Jackson County Probation Office had tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The employee had a recent history of international travel. This is the first MDOC employee who has tested positive for COVID-19. Earlier today, the Jackson County Health Department reported Jackson County’s first presumptive positive case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The positive case is a 60 year old female with travel history.  This individual will be closely monitored by the Jackson County Health Department.  This person will be asked to identify close contacts and other lower-risk contacts so they can be notified and receive further instruction regarding isolation and testing if needed. Jackson County is providing additional, public information to inform the community about possible, lower-risk exposures. Department of Corrections spokesman Chris Gautz confirmed the Probation Office employee is a female with travel history. The MDOC has been in contact with the individual and the department is proactively working to determine any other employees and probationers that person was in contact with. “We are glad to hear our employee is feeling better,” said MDOC Director Heidi…

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced today 12 positive cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This brings the state total of COVID-19 cases to 65.  This number includes 1 new case reported earlier in Jackson County by the Jackson County Health Department. Effective today,  the department will provide statewide numbers daily at 2 PM for: Cases and deaths broken down by county Cases by age range (in 10-year increments) Cases by sex   The daily update will include all information reported through midnight the previous day.  “It is important to provide the public with accurate data regarding this outbreak,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “As the number of people tested has drastically increased in recent days, our team has transitioned the way it prioritizes and reports testing.”  The following charts are today’s totals, followed by cumulative totals. Confirmed COVID-19 Cases by County County Cases Bay 1 Charlevoix 1 Detroit 8 Ingham 2 Jackson 1 Kent 5 Leelanau 1 Macomb 8 Monroe 1 Montcalm 1 Oakland 16 Otsego 1 Ottawa 1 St. Clair 2 Washtenaw 7 Wayne 9 Total 65   Percentage of Cases by Sex Sex % Male 58%…

(March 17, 2020 4:14 PM) In the ongoing response to COVID-19, the Jackson Police Department facility will be closed to the general public beginning today, Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. During this time of closure, many of the administrative services will be unavailable. Some of these services include: Fingerprinting Background checks Court ordered preliminary breath tests Obtaining copies of police reports and traffic crash reports in person (Requests can still be made by phone by calling (517) 788-4120 or by email at jpdrecords@cityofjackson.org. Processing permits to purchase a firearm Retrieving property that is in the possession of the Jackson Police Department Citizens may still contact the Department with general questions by calling (517) 788-4100, option 4 or contact the on-duty patrol supervisor by selecting option 5. In addition, officers have been instructed to handle as many calls for service over the telephone when possible. This means when a citizen calls 911 to report an incident, the officer will call the person back and handle by telephone if the situation permits. Officers will continue to respond to any emergency incident requiring an in-person response. Officers have been instructed to keep a distance of 6-8 feet from members of the…

Includes Palm Sunday and Monday, Tuesday of Holy Week (March 17, 2020 3:45 PM)  Today Earl Boyea, Bishop of the Lansing Catholic Diocese, announced the cancellation of all public Masses, events, and gatherings beginning March 18 and lasting, for now, through Wednesday of Holy Week (April 8). Bishop Boyea said in a letter to parishes, “we will see at that time whether these plans will have to change."  Private Baptisms, Marriages, and Funerals may continue but only with immediate family present.  The Bishop reminds all Catholics in the diocese that they are dispensed from the obligation of Sunday Mass participation through Easter Sunday.  In his letter, Bishop Boyea said, “I ask our pastors to keep Churches open for private prayer.   “The Holy Mass is our way to render back to God our worship and thanks for his many blessings to and for us, his beloved sons and daughters.  We are blessed that all our priests will continue to offer daily private Masses in order to fulfill our blessed duty to God and to lift up our needs in prayerful petition to our Heavenly Father.  Many of these daily Masses have intentions applied to them and those will be honored;…

(March 17, 2020 2:37 PM) To mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak, the Unemployment Insurance Agency and Michigan Works! Agencies are strongly urging workers to avoid visiting their statewide offices and utilize user-friendly online resources for unemployment assistance.  Eligible employees should apply for unemployment benefits at Michigan.gov/UIA  or by calling 1-866-500-0017. A factsheet on how to apply for benefits can also be found here. Michigan Works! resources can be found at MichiganWorks.org or by calling 1-800-285-WORKS. UIA and Michigan Works! statewide offices will remain open, but the agencies will be limiting the amount of people within the offices at one time. “In an effort to protect the health and safety of our residents and promote social distancing, Michigan workers needing assistance from the UIA are strongly urged to avoid visiting our offices. The fastest and best method is online at Michigan.gov/UIA.  You can also connect with our agency by calling 1-866-500-0017,” said UIA Director Steve Gray.   UIA online resources include: File a claim for unemployment benefits Chat with a customer service agent (M-F, 8am to 5pm) Send a message to a customer service agent (weekdays after 5pm and before 8am and weekends) Manage your account 24 hours a day, 7 days…

(March 17, 2020 12:16PM) The first patient with a presumptive positive test result for COVID-19 has been confirmed in Jackson County. The patient did not require hospitalization and is not being treated at Henry Ford Allegiance Health.  The current understanding of COVID-19 suggests that most people who become infected will not become seriously ill and will not need hospitalization. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever; a new, dry cough; and shortness of breath. People who may have been exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms should stay home and contact their doctor by phone or by accessing their MyChart account. Individuals who want to be tested are required to call (517) 205-6100 to be screened and schedule an appointment, prior to proceeding to the Drive-Through Screening Station. We are no longer testing for influenza or RSV. Only one person per vehicle is being tested for COVID-19. The community should continue to practice vigorous prevention efforts including: Washing hands frequently with soap and water. Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throwing the tissue in the trash.  Avoid touching face – especially eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.  Stay home if have cold or flu-like symptoms. Avoid close contact with…

Jackson County Health Department wants to encourage the community to continue to remain calm and to practice social distancing when possible.  Frequent handwashing and covering of mouth with tissues or elbow will also help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. (March 17, 2020 12:02 PM) UPDATE:  Headline changed to add "Presumptive". (March 17, 2020 11:23 AM) Last night, Jackson County Health Department and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported Jackson County’s first presumptive positive case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The positive case is a 60 year old female with travel history.  This individual will be closely monitored by the Jackson County Health Department.  This person will be asked to identify close contacts and other lower-risk contacts so they can be notified and receive further instruction regarding isolation and testing if needed. Jackson County is providing additional, public information to inform the community about possible, lower-risk exposures. “We will be closely monitoring all individuals with direct, personal contact with the identified cases, such as household contacts” says Rashmi Travis, MPH, Jackson County Health Officer. “In addition, we want our community to be fully aware of any possible, but lower-risk community exposures.” As a precaution, Jackson County…