HFAH: 16 Confirmed Positive COVID-19 Cases in Jackson County

(March 25, 2020 2:12 PM) As of 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, there are sixteen positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Jackson County. Dr. Mark Smith, Chief Medical Officer of Henry Ford Allegiance Health, says 9 of the cases are male and 7 are female and 10 are inpatients at HFAH. No other information about the cases was released at an afternoon press briefing by HFAH.

Courtland Keteyian, MD, VP, Population Health; and president and CEO of Jackson Health Network said testing continues at the drive through testing facility at One Jackson Square. Yesterday, 51 vehicles went through the site, of the 44 were health care workers or first responders. Dr. Keteyian said priority is being given to critical care workers in health care and first responders.

Since testing began on March 14, 1029 cars have been through, with 619 people tested and 410 not tested but receiving education.

Dr. Pamela Hackert, Medical Director of the Jackson County Health Department and an Occupational and Preventive Medicine Physician at HFAH said they continue to advise people who are otherwise healthy to stay home. “This is a flu-like illness you can manage at home”, she said. “Stay home and self-isolate for 14 days, the same goes for those who have been in close contact with the person exhibiting symptoms.

The testing site is still open and those interested in getting tested need to call (313) 874-1055.

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: