Health Department Issues 4th of July Holiday Guidance

(July 3, 2020 8:52 AM) During this holiday weekend, and other summer celebrations with family or friends the Jackson County Health Department encourages you to protect yourself and loved ones. The department released the following information:

Residents should continue practicing safe steps to reduce the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19. The health, economic, and social harms of the COVID-19 pandemic remain widespread and severe, and they continue to constitute a statewide emergency and disaster according to EXECUTIVE ORDER, No. 2020-127, Declaration of state of emergency and state of disaster related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently in Jackson County, we are still seeing our numbers slowly increase. The following information as well as breakdown by gender, age, race and a township map are available on the Coronavirus Page on the Jackson County Health Department website.

Report Date: July 2, 2020

Number of Cases

(Cumulative)

Number of Deaths*

Recovered

Jackson County

492

417

When possible, choose activities or behaviors that are lower risk, such as keeping six feet apart rather than standing close to one another and gathering outside rather than indoors. If you choose to gather in a large indoor space, make sure the area is cleaned and disinfected before and after the gathering. The more low risk choices you make during a gathering, the more protection you have from getting or spreading COVID-19.

Executive Order 2020-115 (COVID-19) (June 5, 2020), Rules on gatherings, performances, and events does allow for larger social gatherings of people not part of the same household (50) indoors and (250) outdoors but they must be able to maintain six feet distance from one another.

We know COVID is still actively circulating in our community and state and we want to be able to reduce the opportunity for it to spread further as it has in other parts of the country. The following recommendations are encouraged for you to adopt in order to keep you and your loved ones safe during this holiday celebration:

1. Keep it small. A gathering should be under 10 people.

2. Meet outside.

3. Stay at least six feet apart.

4. Wash or sanitize hands often.

5. Wear masks if possible.

6. Do not share food, drinks, or other items. Have everyone bring their own snacks or serve food with single-use serving utensils.

Some suggestions for celebrating this holiday season include:

· If you plan to display fireworks in a safe area with family members, follow appropriate safety measures as indicated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Remember that your pets may not like fireworks and take care of their needs. See attached fireworks safety poster.

· Go on a boat ride, canoe or kayak trip. Remember only those in the same household should be in the same boat. It is difficult to practice social distancing in the confines of a boat.

· Plan a community/ neighborhood parade with the kids decorating their bicycles and do not forget your pets. They want to have fun with you also.

· Plan a party and practice safe habits and social distancing. There are many games you can still play that can include social distancing.

· Have a contest. (sidewalk chalk drawing, facemask decorating, cookie decorating, etc.)

· Have a family golf outing, walk, swim, or other fun family activity to just relax together

· Come up with creative ideas of your own where you can celebrate with family and friends remotely or in person in a safe manner.

Jackson residents are also reminded of general safety tips. If you choose to travel this holiday weekend, remember to buckle up, follow speed limits, and don’t drink and drive. Individual actions impact the health and safety of others, now more than ever. By following the tips above, residents can continue to do their part in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting their families and community.

For more information, visit the Jackson County Health Department webpage located at www.mijackson.org/hd. You can also visit www.michigan.gov/coronavirus or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html for additional information regarding preventing getting sick.