Health

(April 23, 2021  10:17 PM) The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is recommending vaccine providers across the state resume the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to vaccinate Michiganders age 18 and older. This recommendation is based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending to move forward with administering the vaccine. The agencies previously recommended a pause on April 13 while experts conducted a thorough safety review after reports of a rare blood clotting syndrome in some people. “We are glad to be able to begin administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine again in Michigan following the thorough review and recommendations of ACIP, CDC and FDA,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “This brief pause indicates there is a robust safety review process in place for these vaccines. These adverse events appear to be extremely rare as nearly 7 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the U.S. with only 15 cases of this blood clotting syndrome confirmed. We encourage everyone to continue making appointments to be vaccinated with the safe and effective Johnson…

(April 23, 2021 3:54 PM) Grow Jackson, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing food insecurity, is asking those with and without gardening experience to join volunteers from Consumers Energy, local youth organizations, and the City of Jackson to construct community garden plots Sunday at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center.  Volunteers will help build pollinator habitats, spread compost, remove sod, and plant seeds from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center is at 1107 Adrian Street in Jackson.  The construction event kicks off Grow Jackson’s new Community Gardens, a program funded by sponsorships from Consumers Energy and Jackson Area Catholic Schools, with pending sponsorships with other area companies and in-kind support and participation from the City of Jackson and the Jackson YMCA.  The gardens will provide produce for Grow Jackson’s fresh food distribution program and be available to members of the Jackson community who need more access to fresh produce. Volunteers should dress in layers and bring a water bottle, mask, and snack. This event will take place outside and comply with CDC guidelines. Extra masks will be available and sanitation stations will be in place to ensure safety for all volunteers. Those…

(April 23, 2021 3:43 PM)  The Jackson County Health Department has released the weekly COVID-19 report and is published here: The number of COVID-19 cases is beginning to slightly trend down across the State of Michigan and in Jackson County as seen by data on the MI Safe Start Map.  The groups with the highest cases continue to be the younger individuals including 0-19 year olds, 20-29 year olds and 50-59 year olds. Following CDC guidelines, Jackson County Health Department (JCHD) recommends isolation for COVID-19 positive individuals and a minimal 10 day quarantine for individuals with a known exposure to COVID-19, although 14 days remains the optimal quarantine period. Vaccine Information COVID vaccines are now easy to schedule through online or by calling the provider of your choice.  Moderna (age 18 and over) and Pfizer (age 16 and over) are the vaccines currently offered in Jackson County.  The JCHD encourages all eligible residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine.   JCHD continues to work with Henry Ford Allegiance Health (HFAH), Center for Family Health (CFH), local churches and schools as well as pharmacies to distribute the vaccine throughout the community and provide easy access for everyone. To sign up for one of…

(April 23, 2021 12:00 PM) The Jackson County Health Department released the COVID-19 positive numbers for Jackson County.  As of 12:00 PM today, there are 13,448 positive cases (cumulative), and 245 deaths (cumulative)*.     There are 59 new cases since yesterday’s report.   Cumulative recovered, as of April 23: 10,240** As of April 21, there are 55 persons at Henry Ford Allegiance Health being treated as inpatients for COVID-19.   The cumulative numbers posted on Mondays include the data from Sunday and Monday.  Recovered numbers are being posted as received.  The Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting as of 4:30 PM April 16, there are 5,225 confirmed positive cases at Jackson facilities and 664 confirmed positive staff cases.  MDOC positive case numbers are cumulative. Note:  Jackson County will post COVID-19 data daily by mid-afternoon, Monday-Saturday, keeping with the schedule established by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The cumulative numbers posted on Monday will include the data from Sunday and Monday.  Recovered numbers are being posted as received.  Epicurve data and Township maps are also posted on Mondays by 3:30 PM. *These numbers do not reflect any cases or deaths identified through Michigan Department of Corrections.  Their…

(April 22, 2021 4:06 PM) Michigan reported 4,867 coronavirus (COVID-19) positive test cases today, with the state reported total now at 809,591. Michigan is reporting 108* COVID-19-related deaths today with the state total at 17,139.  *The deaths announced today includes 75 deaths identified during a Vital Records review. See cumulative data page for more information. State Cumulative Total of Recovered COVID-19 Cases (as of 4/16/21): 603,094. This information is updated Monday through Saturday at 3 p.m., with COVID-19 results included as of 10 a.m.  Monday reports include Sunday data.  

(April 22, 2021 12:20 PM) Today, Governor Whitmer signed two bipartisan state House bills that will update state and city income tax filing and payment deadlines. “I’m happy to sign both of these bipartisan bills that give Michiganders more time on their income taxes,” said Governor Whitmer. “This has been a challenging time for both individuals and businesses. Moving these tax deadlines to align with changes at the federal level is simply the right thing to do, giving everyone a bit of a buffer and peace of mind as we navigate these extraordinary times.” House Bill 4569 amends the Uniform City Income Tax Ordinance to extend the April 15 or April 30 city income tax return or payment deadlines given the Internal Revenue Service’s extension of the federal income tax filing or payment deadline. Within the tax year, the new deadline will follow the IRS or 15 days after, whichever is applicable for the city administering the income tax. Taxpayers will not be subject to interest and penalties during city income tax deadline extension periods. This bill was sponsored by state Rep. Andrew Beeler (R-Fort Gratiot) and state Rep. Matt Hall (R-Emmett Township). A copy of HB 4569 can be found here. House Bill 4571 codifies the state income tax deadline…

(April 22, 2021 12:00 PM) The Jackson County Health Department released the COVID-19 positive numbers for Jackson County.  As of 12:00 PM today, there are 13,389 positive cases (cumulative), and 245 deaths (cumulative)*.     There are 54 new cases and 3 new deaths since yesterday’s report.   Cumulative recovered, as of April 22: 10,148** As of April 21, there are 55 persons at Henry Ford Allegiance Health being treated as inpatients for COVID-19.   The cumulative numbers posted on Mondays include the data from Sunday and Monday.  Recovered numbers are being posted as received.  The Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting as of 4:30 PM April 16, there are 5,225 confirmed positive cases at Jackson facilities and 664 confirmed positive staff cases.  MDOC positive case numbers are cumulative. Note:  Jackson County will post COVID-19 data daily by mid-afternoon, Monday-Saturday, keeping with the schedule established by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The cumulative numbers posted on Monday will include the data from Sunday and Monday.  Recovered numbers are being posted as received.  Epicurve data and Township maps are also posted on Mondays by 3:30 PM. *These numbers do not reflect any cases or deaths identified through Michigan…

(April 21, 2021 4:06 PM) Michigan reported 5,584 coronavirus (COVID-19) positive test cases today, with the state reported total now at 804,724. Michigan is reporting 45 COVID-19-related deaths today with the state total at 17,031.  State Cumulative Total of Recovered COVID-19 Cases (as of 4/16/21): 603,094. This information is updated Monday through Saturday at 3 p.m., with COVID-19 results included as of 10 a.m.  Monday reports include Sunday data.  

(April 21, 2021 12:00 PM) The Jackson County Health Department released the COVID-19 positive numbers for Jackson County.  As of 12:00 PM today, there are 13,335 positive cases (cumulative), and 242 deaths (cumulative)*.     There are 79 new cases since yesterday’s report.   Cumulative recovered, as of April 21: 10,037** As of 11 AM on April 15, there are 66 persons at Henry Ford Allegiance Health being treated as inpatients for COVID-19.   The cumulative numbers posted on Mondays include the data from Sunday and Monday.  Recovered numbers are being posted as received.  The Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting as of 4:30 PM April 16, there are 5,225 confirmed positive cases at Jackson facilities and 664 confirmed positive staff cases.  MDOC positive case numbers are cumulative. Note:  Jackson County will post COVID-19 data daily by mid-afternoon, Monday-Saturday, keeping with the schedule established by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The cumulative numbers posted on Monday will include the data from Sunday and Monday.  Recovered numbers are being posted as received.  Epicurve data and Township maps are also posted on Mondays by 3:30 PM. *These numbers do not reflect any cases or deaths identified through Michigan Department…

(April 20, 2021 4:05 PM) Approximately 350,000 Michigan families will continue to have access to additional food assistance benefits during April as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced today. Michigan previously approved the additional food assistance beginning in March 2020 – and now that is being extended for April 2021 with approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. Eligible clients will see additional food assistance benefits on their Bridge Card April 24-May 4. Additional benefits will be loaded onto Bridge Cards as a separate payment from the assistance that is provided earlier in the month. “Michigan will recover from the pandemic as more people received the safe and effective vaccine, said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “In the meantime, MDHHS will continue to help families affected by the pandemic put food on the table.” More than 1.3 million people in Michigan receive federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through the state’s Food Assistance Program. Households eligible for Food Assistance Program benefits will receive additional benefits in April to bring all current SNAP cases to the maximum monthly allowance for that group size. This change only applies…