New COVID-19 cases showing continued decline each week in Jackson County – MLive.com

JACKSON, MI Only a handful of new positive COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed in Jackson County since last week, as health officials release data showing where positive cases have been located throughout the county.

The Jackson County Health Department reports Wednesday, May 27, that 439 residents have tested positive for COVID-19, which is 18 more positive cases than a week ago.

This comes on the heels of 17 new cases reported May 20 and and 36 new cases reported the week before that.

There have been no new COVID-19 deaths reported in Jackson County since May 20, keeping the number at 26. There was one new death reported the previous week and none the week before that.

The 439 confirmed positive cases, while spread throughout the county, are largely linked to residents living within the city of Jackson, Blackman Township, Leoni Township and Summit Township, according to a new data map created by the Jackson County Health Department.

The map, updated weekly, shows positive cases by township throughout the county. The city has the most cases at 94. With two cases each, Norvell and Waterloo townships have the fewest in the county.

Risk of the virus spreading in Jackson County is listed as medium with 5 percent of those tested getting positive results, according to a COVID-19 interactive database created by health professionals at the University of Michigan.

Michigan tests every state prisoner for coronavirus in less than 15 days

Positive COVID-19 results from the prisons in Jackson County are not included in the countys numbers.

The Michigan Department of Corrections reports 15 more new cases of the virus in prisoners serving sentences in Jackson Countys various prisons.

Eleven additional prisoners at the Parnall Correctional Facility have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 191, with no new deaths beyond the 10 prisoners previously reported, according to the MDOC.

No new infections have been reported among staff at the facility, keeping the confirmed case count to 76, MDOC said.

No prisoners have tested positive at the Cooper Street Correctional Facility, though 1,397 prisoners are still waiting for test results. Of those with returned results, 128 prisoners have tested negative so far, MDOC said.

One new case of the virus has been confirmed at the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility, increasing its total at 689 cases and no new deaths beyond the one death already reported.

Four additional employees at the Cotton facility have tested positive for the virus, bringing its total to 40.

No additional prisoners have died and only two more have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Charles E. Egeler Reception and Guidance Center, bringing its coronavirus totals to six deaths and 106 confirmed cases, MDOC said.

There are 930 prisoners still waiting for test results.

Two additional employees of the reception center have tested positive, marking 32 staff cases.

One new case has been reported at the Duane Waters Health Center, bringing the total to 70, with no new deaths and no new staff members testing positive.

Statewide, officials reported 55,608 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 and a death toll of 5,334 Wednesday, May 27.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.

Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

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New COVID-19 cases showing continued decline each week in Jackson County - MLive.com