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Jackson County goes a week without a new COVID-19 case By Ryan Pfeil of the Mail Tribune Apr 23, 2020 03:58 PM A A Jackson County passed seven days Thursday with no new reported cases of COVID-19. The county’s total remained at 48, and at least 33 of those patients are considered recovered, according to Jackson County Public Health. The Oregon Health Authority reported five more deaths in the state Thursday, with 68 new cases, raising the death toll to 83, with 2,127 cases. No Jackson County residents have died of the illness. State officials plan to release information weekly on the number of recovered patients. People who are considered recovered must be free of fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications), cough and shortness of breath for 72 hours, officials said. COVID-19 patients without symptoms are also considered to be recovered seven days after the last positive test. Five Jackson County patients in their 20s have recovered, along with four patients in their 30s, three in their 40s, seven in their 50s, five in their 60s, and nine in their 70s. The county’s first two cases were individuals between the ages of 55 and 74 who contracted the disease while traveling outside the country. Cases began to rise in late March, with 11 during the week of March 22, according to Tanya Phillips, county health promotion manager. There were 20 more the week of March 29, followed by 13 the week of April 5, and two the week of April 12. “We have not had a confirmed case since (April) 16,” Phillips said in an email. OHA officials reported that 43,976 Oregonians have been tested for the disease, including 3,741 from Jackson County, with 41,849 people testing negative. The White House on Wednesday released a report showing that Oregon is among four states with the lowest testing capacity in the United States, according to The Associated Press. Earlier this week, OHA released new testing guidelines, urging health officials to increase testing for those who are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. That includes residents or employees of group living facilities, underserved and marginalized populations, essential health care workers, and other workers who serve the public, such as grocery store employees. That, Shames said, has been a local methodology from the outset. “Our basic focus hasn’t changed. That is, we continue to focus on the people we’re most worried about,” Shames said. Reach web editor Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RyanPfeil.