Photo by Luc Brown
The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Madison County rose by three Monday afternoon, bringing the total number of cases to 44, according to a news release from the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department.
The new COVID-19 cases were announced through email.
The newest patients include:
- a 60-year-old female (not hospitalized)
- a 58-year-old male (not hospitalized)
- a 66-year-old male (not hospitalized)
The health department’s epidemiology staff is reaching out to people who had contact with the patients. Kim Tedford, executive director of the Jackson-Madison County Regional Hospital, said her department has been able to connect some of the 44 patients to other patients, stating that they might have been at the same social gatherings at one time.
Tedford said five of the 44 patients are hospitalized, with two patients on ventilators.
“We have not had a death from COVID-19,” Tedford said.
So far, Tedford said her department has received five positive COVID-19 test results from the Mar. 26 drive-through assessment site at the Jackson Fairgrounds. Fifty-six people tested negative and five tests are still pending.
According to models, Madison County is expected to peak in its number of COVID-19 cases mid-April to end of April, health officials said this week.
Shelter-At-Home executive orders were announced Friday by City of Jackson Mayor Scott Conger and Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris. The orders went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, April 5, and will last for seven days. The mayors said they will re-visit and renew the order in six days.
The order said only life-sustaining businesses should remain open and that you should only leave home for essential reasons or services. Conger said violation of the order is a class A misdemeanor, which carries up to a $2,5oo fine and up to 11 months and 29 days in jail.
Conger also announced that evictions are suspended.
You can read Conger’s executive order here: Executive-Order-2020.06.