Jefferson County Public Health on Thursday reported the area’s first confirmed case of COVID-19, adding the person tested positive outside the state and has not been in Central Oregon during their infectious period.
Officials say the resident is currently living out of the state and getting care through their out of state provider.
“This case highlights the way our public health system works,” officials said in a statement. “Regardless of where a test is conducted, the county of residence remains the primary reporting classification. Jefferson County Public Health and local partners will continue to work with this initial case as well as respond to this declared emergency.”
Officials also say the patient has not required hospitalization and is full cooperating with the health department.
The new case brings the Central Oregon total to 47 – 45 in Deschutes County and one each in Crook and Jefferson counties.
Statewide, more than 1,200 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and 38 people have died
As this novel coronavirus continues to spread, Jefferson County Public Health and local healthcare providers stress that the safety of staff and community members remains our highest priority. Therefore, local partners will continue to provide quality care and ensure timely and accurate information remains available to the public. As our situation is constantly changing, Jefferson County Public Health will continue to share the most current information and guidelines available.
Jefferson County Public Health respects and values the privacy of community members and the confidentiality regarding medical information. Therefore, no identifiable information will be released about confirmed cases in Jefferson County.
The Jefferson County Public Health Communicable Disease team has already started working diligently to identify and notify all known contacts of the positive case through case investigation.
- Case investigation includes identifying all known contacts of the positive cases so proper notification and risk assessment can occur. This allows local public health to then apply monitoring requirements recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Oregon Health Authority.
- Status on investigation of known contacts is ongoing. Currently all persons under monitoring are cooperative and following the guidance.
- Any persons under monitoring will be monitored by Jefferson County Public Health for a minimum of 14 days.
Jefferson County Public Health has been part of the Central Oregon response around COVID-19 since the first of March and will continue to work closely with neighboring counties along with our local city and county organizations.
Central Oregon Public Health Agencies and the Oregon Health Authority continue to recommend people take everyday precautions to prevent the spread of many respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and influenza – The CDC is recommending the following interventions to slow the spread of COVID-19, and other respiratory infections (including flu and pertussis) by taking everyday preventive actions, including:
