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Jackson County sets record for daily COVID-19 cases By Vickie Aldous Updated: Jul 30, 2021 12:35 PM A A Only four ICU beds are open in Rogue Valley Jackson County reported a record 188 new COVID-19 cases Friday, and the number of open intensive care beds dropped to four in Jackson and Josephine counties. “Today, Jackson County set a new record for the number of new cases in one day. The number of COVID-19-positive patients being hospitalized and in the ICU are also at record numbers in the region,” Dr. Jim Shames, health officer for Jackson County, said Friday. “Until more people make the decision to get vaccinated and take action, we will continue to see this virus impact our community and push our hospital systems past its capacity.” Jackson County Public Health said the county is seeing a sharp increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases and outbreaks. Officials said the number of people being hospitalized for COVID-19 has reached an alarming rate. On Friday, 68 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Jackson and Josephine counties, Jackson County Public Health said. The number of open intensive care beds had dropped to four in Jackson and Josephine counties’ four hospitals, according to the latest information from the Oregon Health Authority. Ashland and Grants Pass each have a hospital, and Medford has two. For the two counties, 53 of 57 ICU beds were filled, with COVID-19 positive patients occupying 18 ICU beds and six of those on ventilators. For non-ICU beds, 410 of 457 were filled at local hospitals. On Friday, Jackson County Public Health reported three COVID-19 related deaths ― two 83-year-old men, and an 80-year-old man. The number of hospitalized patients in the area has spiked to levels not seen since early January, when COVID-19 vaccines weren’t yet widely available. Only 103,515 of Jackson County’s population of 223,240 adults and kids have been vaccinated, for an overall vaccination rate of 46.4%, according to Friday data from OHA. Children younger than 12 aren’t yet eligible for vaccination. In Josephine County, 36,010 of the county’s 86,560-person population is vaccinated, for a vaccination rate of 41.6%, OHA data show. With the lifting of almost all COVID-19 restrictions this summer and more than half of the local population unvaccinated, the pandemic is essentially spreading unchecked among unvaccinated people. Unvaccinated people account for the majority of new COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths, health experts said. Vaccinated people can carry and spread the virus, but have much less risk of and getting sick or dying. Jackson County Public Health, OHA and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are all recommending that people return to wearing masks in public indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status. Masks are mandatory in some places in Oregon, including health care settings. Jackson County Public Health said Friday it is investigating a rising number of COVID-19 outbreaks affecting workplaces and group living facilities. Local outbreaks include 35 cases and three deaths at Farmington Square Memory Care, seven cases and a death at Lakeland Senior Living, seven cases associated with Food-4-Less and seven cases associated with Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. The COVID-19 virus continues to mutate, and the highly contagious Delta variant is fueling a nationwide surge in cases, accounting for 80% of new cases, health experts estimate. COVID-19 cases have spiked 300% nationally from June 19 to July 23, experts said. Jackson County Public Health said the best way to stop the spread of the Delta variant is to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death, and are effective against the Delta variant. High vaccination coverage will reduce the spread of the virus in Jackson County and elsewhere ― and help prevent new variants from emerging, local officials said. Free two-dose Moderna and one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are available at Jackson County Public Health, 140 S. Holly St., Medford. The building is open from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments are not required. For information about other vaccination sites in the community, visit jacksoncountyor.org/hhs/COVID-19/Vaccine-Appointments/where-to-get-vaccinated-in-jackson-county . Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous .