(Jackson, MI) – The number of COVID-19 cases is beginning to slightly trend down across the State of Michigan and in Jackson County as seen by data on the MI Safe Start Map.  The groups with the highest cases continue to be the younger individuals including 0-19 year olds, 20-29 year olds and 50-59 year olds. Following CDC guidelines, Jackson County Health Department (JCHD) recommends isolation for COVID-19 positive individuals and a minimal 10 day quarantine for individuals with a known exposure to COVID-19, although 14 days remains the optimal quarantine period.

Vaccine Information

COVID vaccines are now easy to schedule through online or by calling the provider of your choice.  Moderna (age 18 and over) and Pfizer (age 16 and over) are the vaccines currently offered in Jackson County.  The JCHD encourages all eligible residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 

JCHD continues to work with Henry Ford Allegiance Health (HFAH), Center for Family Health (CFH), local churches and schools as well as pharmacies to distribute the vaccine throughout the community and provide easy access for everyone. To sign up for one of these clinics, please visit or call:

·         JCHD sponsored clinics – www.mijackson.org/hd or call (517) 788-4420, option 9

·         HFAH – www.henryford.com/covidvaccine

·         Center for Family Health – Call 517-748-5363

·         Pharmacies and other sites – www.Vaccinefinder.org

If you do not have internet access or need assistance registering for a vaccine, please ask a friend or family member to help or contact the health department for additional guidance.

Current Trends in Jackson County:

Over 44.5% of the population in Jackson County, aged 16+ have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.  Vaccine appointments continue to become more readily available, with some clinics offering walk-in opportunities.

·         Homebound individuals who want a COVID vaccine can contact Disability Connections at (517) 998-3084, Region 2 Area on Aging at (517) 592-1976 or the Jackson County Department on Aging at (517) 788-4364.

As of April 19, Jackson County has a 14.6% positivity rate with new cases trending down. In Jackson County, the seven day average is 84.8 cases per day while Michigan’s seven day average is 5099.1 cases per day.  Random sequence testing for variants across the state suggests that the B.1.1.7 variant is the dominant strain spreading in Michigan.

In order to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, residents are encouraged to continue preventative measures as recommended by the CDC, which includes frequently washing your hands, wearing a mask and maintaining social distance when around others.

Data

Jackson County Health Department reports the following data as of April 22, 2021. This information is also available on the Michigan Vaccine Dashboard  which is updated daily (M-F) by 3:00 p.m.

COVID case numbers in Jackson County compared to the State of Michigan:

*Data as of April 18, 2021

**Recovered = alive 30 days after onset date (if onset date is missing, then referral date). This calculation is using the Patient Status variable to distinguish alive vs deceased.

Additional Resources

Jackson County Health Department Webpage

State of Michigan Vaccination and Prioritization Strategy

https://www.mistartmap.info/about

Centers for Disease Control Vaccine Information Page