Henry Ford Allegiance Health Sunday Morning Update

(March 22, 2020 10:33 AM) As of 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 22, there is one positive case of COVID-19 in Jackson County. The individual is not receiving care at Henry Ford Allegiance Health.

 Yesterday, the Henry Ford Allegiance Health COVID-19 drive-through screening and testing center tested 28 individuals for COVID-19. An additional 14 people did not need to be tested; these individuals were provided with education. 

As CDC recommendations for screening and testing change, we are modifying testing criteria at the drive-through center.

 Drive-through testing is only recommended if individuals are experiencing symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, or shortness of breath), and have a risk factor (e.g., age 65 or older, chronic medical condition, or immunocompromised), and one of the following:

• Travel outside of Michigan within the past 14 days.
• Close contact with someone who already has, or is suspected to have, COVID-19.

 According to Courtland Keteyian, MD, VP, Population Health; and president and CEO of Jackson Health Network, “For otherwise healthy individuals with symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever or cough, we are asking them to self-isolate at home for 14 days and not seek testing. Their close contacts, such as family members living with them, should also self-isolate at home for 14 days, if they develop symptoms.”

Pamela Hackert, MD, Medical Director for Jackson County Health Department and Jackson Health Network, added, “The number of confirmed cases cannot be used in any way, to estimate the number of actual people in our county with COVID-19. Given the length of time it is taking to receive lab results for COVID-19 testing across the country, including Jackson, anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, dry cough and shortness of breath) should act as though they have the infection to avoid the possibility of spreading the virus to others.”

Local COVID-19 information and facility closure updates are regularly updated and available at HenryFord.com/COVID19Jackson.